F1 2026 engine usage in Baku: Ferrari avoids power unit penalty but reaches zero margin

Ferrari has avoided a power unit grid penalty at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc’s recently introduced ADUO2 engine returning to action in Baku without problems after additional factory checks. The immediate concern has therefore been removed, but the wider picture remains delicate: both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have now used their full permitted allocation across every principal 2026 power unit category.

Baku has traditionally been an attractive venue for teams that need to absorb engine-related grid penalties. The circuit provides genuine opportunities to recover positions, a fresh power unit can offer a useful performance benefit, and the Azerbaijan round arrives late enough in the season for many drivers to have reached the limits of their normal component rotation. That combination has again produced numerous changes and penalties across the grid.

The latest component situation, based on FIA documentation issued after FP2, shows eight drivers who have already exceeded at least one seasonal allocation: Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Liam Lawson, Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman.

Under the 2026 limits referenced for the Azerbaijan weekend, each driver may use four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three power unit control electronics units and six auxiliary power unit components before additional introductions trigger penalties. The wider reliability picture across the season can also be followed through the F1 Reliability & DNF Statistics.

Ferrari avoids Baku power unit penalty but has no allocation left

Ferrari arrived in Azerbaijan in essentially the same position it had occupied in Madrid. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are now at the maximum permitted allocation in every listed category: four ICEs, four turbochargers, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and six PU-ANCs.

That meant the condition of Charles Leclerc’s ADUO2 power unit carried particular importance after his Monza accident. The engine required further inspections at Maranello and was not used at the following Madrid weekend while those checks continued.

The unit returned to the car during Baku practice and ran without any apparent issue, removing the pre-weekend concern that Ferrari might be forced to introduce another ICE and accept a grid penalty. The positive outcome confirmed that Charles Leclerc could avoid an Azerbaijan GP engine penalty and keep the ADUO2 in his usable pool.

That does not give Ferrari any breathing room for the remainder of the component cycle. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already reached the permitted maximum in all of the main categories, meaning another fresh component in any of them would move the Scuderia beyond its current allocation.

Mercedes also reaches a delicate point with Russell and Antonelli

Mercedes is operating with similarly limited flexibility. George Russell has already used four ICEs, four turbochargers, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores and three PU-CEs. His only remaining margin is in the PU-ANC category, where he has used five of the six available units.

Kimi Antonelli is already beyond several limits. His tally stands at five ICEs, three turbos, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs. The Italian served his grid penalty at Monza, while the engine that later experienced a problem during practice was an older unit already in his rotation. No additional replacement was required in Baku, so there was no further penalty.

Mercedes’ power unit position adds another layer of context to a weekend in which George Russell secured a dominant Baku pole ahead of Charles Leclerc.

McLaren reaches the limit in more power unit categories

Oscar Piastri’s allocation changed in Azerbaijan after McLaren introduced a third Energy Store and a third PU-CE. Both remain within the permitted limits, but the Australian now has no remaining margin in either category. His fourth ICE is likewise the final unit available within the normal allocation.

Oscar Piastri’s full totals are four ICEs, three turbochargers, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs.

Lando Norris is already beyond the PU-CE limit after using a fourth unit. His Baku figures stand at four ICEs, three turbos, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs. He is therefore also at the limit for both the ICE and Energy Store.

Red Bull and Racing Bulls show very different usage patterns

Liam Lawson remains the most extreme case numerically. He has already exceeded the permitted allocation in every listed category, reaching six ICEs, six turbochargers, six exhaust systems, four MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and seven PU-ANCs.

Max Verstappen’s position is significantly more comfortable. The Red Bull driver remains on three ICEs, three turbos and three exhaust systems, while he has reached the maximum of three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores and three PU-CEs. He has used four PU-ANCs, leaving further room in that category.

At Racing Bulls, Arvid Lindblad fitted a fourth ICE, fourth turbocharger and fourth exhaust system in Baku, together with his fifth PU-ANC. He remains within the regulatory allocation, with two MGU-Ks, two Energy Stores and two PU-CEs also recorded. Yuki Tsunoda stands at three ICEs, three turbos, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, two Energy Stores, two PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs.

Williams, Haas, Audi, Alpine and Cadillac power unit counts

Williams has already crossed the limit with both drivers in at least one category. Alexander Albon is on five ICEs and four PU-CEs, alongside three turbos, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores and five PU-ANCs. Carlos Sainz has used four ICEs, four turbos, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs.

At Haas, Esteban Ocon remains within the normal allocation with four ICEs, four turbos, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs. Oliver Bearman, by contrast, is already beyond the limit in three categories: his totals are four ICEs, four turbos, four exhaust systems, four MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs.

Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg has used four ICEs, four turbos, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, two Energy Stores, two PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs. Gabriel Bortoleto remains on three ICEs, three turbos, three exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs.

For Alpine, Pierre Gasly’s tally is four ICEs, three turbochargers, three exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and five PU-ANCs. Franco Colapinto has used four ICEs, three turbos, two exhaust systems, two MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs.

Cadillac’s Ferrari-powered cars remain comparatively straightforward. Sergio Perez has used four ICEs, four turbos, three exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and four PU-ANCs. Valtteri Bottas is on three units in every major category, with three PU-ANCs also recorded.

Aston Martin faces the biggest Azerbaijan GP grid penalties

The most significant developments of the Baku weekend concern Aston Martin. Lance Stroll had already arrived with a fifth ICE before moving onto a sixth turbocharger, seventh Energy Store, sixth PU-CE and eighth PU-ANC during the weekend. His overall totals are five ICEs, six turbos, three exhaust systems, five MGU-Ks, seven Energy Stores, six PU-CEs and eight PU-ANCs.

Fernando Alonso also added several components. He introduced a fifth ICE, fifth turbocharger and ninth PU-ANC while moving his exhaust count to three. A further change on Friday added a seventh Energy Store, leaving him on five ICEs, five turbos, three exhaust systems, five MGU-Ks, seven Energy Stores, six PU-CEs and nine PU-ANCs.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll receive Baku grid penalties

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix power unit penalties therefore fall on the two Aston Martin drivers. Fernando Alonso initially accumulated 25 grid places after introducing a fifth ICE, fifth turbocharger and ninth PU-ANC. The first two components carried ten places each, with another five places attached to the auxiliary component.

The later introduction of a seventh Energy Store added another five places, raising Fernando Alonso’s total accumulated penalty for the weekend to 30 grid positions.

Lance Stroll, meanwhile, must serve a 20-place grid penalty. The punishment comes from his sixth turbocharger, seventh Energy Store, sixth PU-CE and eighth PU-ANC, with five places applied for each additional component.

Ferrari therefore enters the Azerbaijan Grand Prix without the power unit penalty that had been feared for Charles Leclerc, but the relief comes with an important caveat. Both Ferrari drivers are now completely at the limit of their permitted allocations, leaving the Maranello team with no remaining margin if another fresh component becomes necessary. The broader Baku weekend timetable and race information can be found in the 2026 Azerbaijan GP schedule.

F1 2026 power unit usage after Baku FP2

The following figures reflect the power unit component usage recorded in FIA documents after FP2 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The 2026 allocation allows four ICEs, four turbochargers, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and six PU-ANCs.

Component-status guide: values at the regulatory maximum represent the final component available before an additional-unit penalty. Bold values above the permitted allocation indicate that the seasonal limit has already been exceeded at Baku or at an earlier Grand Prix.