Austrian GP power unit allocation: Ferrari joins Mercedes on the brink of grid penalties. Austrian GP power unit report: Ferrari, Mercedes and several rivals approaching FIA limits.

2026 Austrian GP – Power unit situation: not only Mercedes, Ferrari also close to grid penalties

With the Austrian Grand Prix marking the end of the first third of the 2026 Formula 1 season—following the reduction of the calendar from 24 to 22 races after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix—the latest power unit usage data paints an increasingly delicate picture regarding reliability.

While no driver has yet been forced into a genuine emergency engine rotation—also considering that Ferrari introduced its updated third power unit featuring the ADUO specification—the usage of several components is becoming increasingly critical.

The component currently under the greatest pressure is the Energy Store (battery). Lando Norris, George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and several other drivers have already used all three Energy Stores permitted under the special 2026 regulations. Their next battery replacement will automatically trigger a grid penalty.

Much has been said throughout the season about Mercedes’ battery reliability concerns, but the latest FIA allocation documents show that Ferrari is now in a very similar position, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton already at the regulatory limit.

2026 FIA power unit allocation rules

The framework is defined by Article B8.2 – Power Unit Limitations & Usage of the FIA Sporting Regulations, which establishes the maximum number of components each driver may use during the championship, together with the corresponding grid penalties once those limits are exceeded.

During a standard championship season, each driver is permitted to use:

• 3 Internal Combustion Engines (ICE)
• 3 Turbochargers (TC)
• 3 Exhaust Systems (EXH)
• 2 Energy Stores (ES)
• 2 Power Unit Control Electronics (PU-CE)
• 2 MGU-K units
• 5 Power Unit Ancillary Components (PU-ANC)

Whenever a driver exceeds the allocation in any category, the first additional component carries a 10-place grid penalty, while every subsequent extra component of the same type results in a further five-place penalty. These penalties accumulate and are applied at the first event where the new component is introduced.

If multiple additional components of the same category are installed during a single race weekend, only the final component fitted may continue to be used in future Grands Prix without generating further penalties. Meanwhile, components classified as EXC or minor parts may still be replaced without penalty, provided the work is carried out under FIA supervision using approved replacement parts.

For 2026 only, as this is the opening season of Formula 1’s new technical regulations, the FIA has granted every driver one additional component in each category. The limits therefore increase to:

• 4 ICE
• 4 Turbochargers
• 4 Exhaust Systems
• 3 Energy Stores
• 3 Power Unit Control Electronics
• 3 MGU-K units
• 6 Power Unit Ancillary Components

The regulations also include a specific concession for manufacturers entering the new power unit era for the first time, such as Ford and Audi, allowing them one extra component in every category. The FIA also retains the right to revise these limits if widespread reliability problems emerge during the season.

Updated 2026 power unit usage after the Austrian Grand Prix

(Figures updated using FIA documents covering the new power unit elements introduced for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix.)

* New power unit manufacturer benefiting from the additional allocation concession.

Current situation

Overall, power unit management remains under control across the Formula 1 grid, but the Austrian Grand Prix marked a significant step forward in component rotation. Several drivers have now entered what could be described as the “orange zone”—their final permitted component before automatic grid penalties come into effect.

Those currently on the limit include:

• Lando Norris – Energy Store and PU Control Electronics.
• George Russell – Energy Store.
• Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Energy Store.
• Isack Hadjar – Energy Store and PU Control Electronics, despite benefiting from the additional allocation granted to new manufacturers.
• Charles Leclerc – Energy Store.
• Lewis Hamilton – Energy Store.
• Alexander Albon – Energy Store and PU Control Electronics.
• Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto – Energy Store.

Elsewhere, Lance Stroll has reached the limit on MGU-K usage, while Fernando Alonso has already exhausted his final available ancillary power unit component.

The most critical case remains Fernando Alonso. The Aston Martin driver has already exceeded the permitted allocation for the MGU-K, Energy Store and Power Unit Control Electronics. The introduction of a seventh ancillary power unit component will automatically trigger yet another grid penalty.

Lance Stroll is also already beyond the permitted limits for both the Energy Store and PU Control Electronics, meaning his next replacement in either category will also result in a grid drop.

Although much of the attention throughout the season has focused on Mercedes’ battery reliability issues, the latest FIA allocation confirms that Ferrari is now operating equally close to the limit. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already used their full allocation of Energy Stores, meaning any further battery replacement later this season will inevitably come at the cost of grid positions unless the FIA introduces additional reliability concessions.