Williams chasing copy of Mercedes PU trick

Williams team principal James Vowles has revealed that the British outfit is working hard to try to replicate a power unit trick reportedly being used by Mercedes.

The Grove-based outfit is, of course, a customer of the German manufacturer, yet Mercedes has managed to unlock more engine performance than the teams it supplies with power units.

This is particularly evident in qualifying, with Vowles revealing that the Silver Arrows have discovered how to "trick the system" to give themselves more energy at a certain point on the track.

For the trick to be possible, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell must lift, something that appears to be happening at the end of the lap at Spa-Francorchamps.

However, what is also noticeable in the data is that the W17's acceleration out of the final corner is exceptional, giving Mercedes a strong boost at the start of the lap.

Williams is trying to unlock the same advantage itself and is working as hard as possible to deliver it to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.

Asked if Williams can also use Mercedes' trick, Vowles explained to Sky F1: "So what they're doing, effectively, is tricking the system into allowing it to use energy in a more efficient location, and the compromise is lifting. 

"That's our best read of it. Whilst we're a Mercedes customer, that doesn't mean we have what they have available to them. 

"So we're doing our best in the background to work towards a similar way of operating the power unit."