Grid penalty threat hangs over Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in 2025 F1 season run-in. The Formula 1 2025 season finale could be decisive.

Formula 1 leaves no room for mistakes, and the second half of the 2025 season promises to be explosive. Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are walking a very thin line: just one more complete change of power unit components could see them starting from the back of the grid.

Power unit limits in Formula 1

To better understand the danger facing the top drivers, here is the full list of power unit components and their seasonal limits:

• Internal combustion engine (ICE): maximum 4 per season
• Turbocompressor (TC): maximum 4 per season
• Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K): maximum 4 per season
• Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H): maximum 4 per season
• Control electronics (CE): maximum 2 per season
• Energy store (ES): maximum 2 per season
• Exhaust system (EX): maximum 8 per season

What are the penalties?

Whenever the final allowed power unit or a component has already been used, every further replacement triggers sanctions:

• 10-place grid penalty for the first extra use of any component
• 5-place grid penalty for each subsequent replacement of the same component

The risk is obvious: a sudden failure or even a strategic error could ruin the ambitions of a leading driver. With the title still wide open between the two McLaren drivers, every detail could prove decisive.

Who is most at risk of grid penalties?

• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Already at the limit with several components. Any additional ICE would drop him to the back of the grid.
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Also reached the limit with his last engine change at Monza. He will need maximum caution in the remaining races.
• Lando Norris (McLaren) – Fighting for the championship, but risks losing crucial qualifying positions to penalties.
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – In the same situation as his teammate, under pressure in a World Championship battle that is still wide open.
• George Russell (Mercedes) – Also on the edge with his power unit allocation, with little margin for error.

Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda and Kimi Antonelli have already served engine penalties earlier this year. If they are forced to change additional components again, the consequences could be even more severe.