In modern Formula 1, managing power unit components has become a crucial blend of technical precision and strategic planning. The regulations set strict limits on the number of elements that can be replaced without incurring grid penalties, and with the 2025 season entering its final stretch, most drivers have already reached — or even exceeded — those limits. This makes the planning of component changes and their impact on starting grid positions a decisive factor in securing valuable championship points.
According to Article 28.2 of the sporting regulations, during the 2025 season each driver may use a maximum of 4 internal combustion engines (ICE), 4 turbochargers (TC), 4 MGU-H, 4 MGU-K, 2 energy stores (ES), 2 control electronics (CE), and 8 exhaust systems (EX) without penalties.
Updated power unit component usage per driver – 2025 Formula 1 season
| No. | Team | Driver | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-K | ES | CE | EX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | McLaren | Oscar Piastri | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 04 | McLaren | Lando Norris | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 16 | Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 44 | Ferrari | Lewis Hamilton | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 01 | Red Bull | Max Verstappen | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 22 | Red Bull | Yuki Tsunoda | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 63 | Mercedes | George Russell | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Mercedes | Kimi Antonelli | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Aston Martin | Lance Stroll | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 14 | Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Alpine | Pierre Gasly | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 07 | Alpine | Franco Colapinto | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 31 | Haas | Esteban Ocon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 87 | Haas | Oliver Bearman | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 06 | RBR | Isack Hadjar | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | RBR | Liam Lawson | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 23 | Williams | Alexander Albon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 55 | Williams | Carlos Sainz | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 27 | Sauber | Gabriel Bortoleto | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 05 | Sauber | Nico Hülkenberg | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Current situation
After the Austin Grand Prix, it’s clear that no driver has any margin left: any further changes to main power unit components will result in grid penalties. In Mexico, the thin air puts extra stress on the engines — particularly on the turbochargers — which makes overtaking difficult but not impossible. For this reason, some teams might accept grid penalties in exchange for fitting fresh, more powerful, and more reliable units.
Beyond the limit (5th component on ICE/TC/MGU-H/MGU-K): Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson. Any additional replacement will result in at least a five-place grid penalty.
At the limit (4th component used): Alexander Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lance Stroll, and Carlos Sainz. For these drivers, the next change would mean a ten-place grid penalty.
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