As we approach the upcoming race in the 2023 Formula 1 season, let’s delve deeply into the utilization of power unit components by every Formula 1 team up to this point in the ongoing campaign.
Outlined below is a comprehensive inventory of power unit components that have been deployed leading up to the 2023 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. This event is scheduled to unfold at the 5.513-kilometer Circuit of The Americas in Austin on Sunday, October 22.
With only 5 races left in this long season, all drivers have exhausted the allowable parts according to the regulations, and from this point on, any change will result in a penalty. Max Verstappen has already clinched the World Title, but behind him, we are witnessing a very tight battle in the midfield and the back of the grid, where a few tenths can make a huge difference. Those concerned about component reliability will have to replace some parts, but the regulations impose a limit on the number of components that can be replaced on a car, with particular attention to power unit-related parts, as well as gearbox and transmission components.
According to the regulations for the 2023 season, a driver cannot use more than four ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), MGU-H, MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit – Heat and Kinetic), and turbochargers (TC), two Energy Stores (ES), two Control Electronics (CE), and eight exhaust systems during the season.
The FIA has published a report detailing all the parts used on the various drivers’ cars so far. We highlight the parts that are already associated with a penalty and those that are on the verge and will incur a penalty upon the next replacement. Teams are already planning which of the remaining GPs to make component changes to minimize the consequences of grid penalties.
Here is an updated table of the parts used by each driver in 2023 (after the Qatar GP):
| N. | Scuderia | Pilota | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-K | ES | CE | EX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Red Bull RBPT | Max Verstappen | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Red Bull RBPT | Sergio Perez | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 16 | Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 55 | Ferrari | Carlos Sainz | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 63 | Mercedes | George Russell | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 44 | Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 31 | Alpine | Esteban Ocon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 10 | Alpine | Pierre Gasly | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 81 | McLaren Mercedes | Oscar Piastri | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 04 | McLaren Mercedes | Lando Norris | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 77 | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | Valtteri Bottas | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 24 | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | Zhou Guanyu | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Aston Martin Mercedes | Lance Stroll | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 | Aston Martin Mercedes | Fernando Alonso | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 20 | Haas Ferrari | Kevin Magnussen | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 27 | Haas Ferrari | Nico Hulkenberg | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 21 | AlphaTauri RBPT | Liam Lawson | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 22 | AlphaTauri RBPT | Yuki Tsunoda | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 23 | Williams Mercedes | Alexander Albon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 02 | Williams Mercedes | Logan Sargeant | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Except for Lando Norris, none of the drivers will be able to replace power unit-related components without incurring a penalty. Both Haas cars and Zhou’s Alfa Romeo, all powered by Ferrari, are already penalized for ICE, TC, MGU-H, and MGU-K, indicating a powerful engine but with some reliability issues. Ferrari has been able to work on this aspect throughout the year with the various approved PU specifications, and the latest one used by the Scuderia in Monza unlocked an additional performance step.
Regarding gearbox and transmission, among the drivers at risk are Red Bull drivers, Ferrari drivers, Alpine, McLaren, and AlphaTauri, who have all used four of the five possible gearboxes during the season. Already penalized are Magnussen, Hulkenberg, and Verstappen.
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