Power Unit elements usage: which drivers are at risk of penalties? | 2023 F1 Austrian Grand Prix. 2023 F1 Power Unit elements usage.

We have reached the ninth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, or ten races if we also consider the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Sprint Race, and it is inevitable that some components are at risk of reliability due to wear and tear. Considering the various incidents and sudden failures we have witnessed in previous races, the number of parts replaced on the cars is already quite high for almost all drivers.

The regulations impose a limit on the number of parts that can be replaced on a car before incurring a penalty, with particular attention given to power unit components, as well as the gearbox and transmission. The regulations state that during the 2023 Formula One season, a driver cannot use more than four Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), MGU-H units, MGU-K units, and turbochargers (TC), two Energy Stores (ES), two Control Electronics (CE), and eight exhaust systems.

With the customary summary documents released before the free practice sessions, the FIA publishes the report of all the parts used so far on each driver’s car.

Regarding the engine elements, all drivers have used two of each of the following: ICE, turbocharger, MGU-K, and MGU-H. In the yellow zone, we find Lando Norris, Alexander Albon, and Yuki Tsunoda who have used three, while in the orange zone, Pierre Gasly is already at 4, which means he will incur a grid penalty at the next change. Both Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc are in the yellow zone as well, having used 3 ICE units.

In terms of the number of exhaust pipes, Norris and Gasly stand out, as they are the only ones in the group to have used 5, while the other drivers remain at 3 or 4. This is a clear sign of the difficult start in terms of reliability for McLaren and Alpine.

Among the electrical components of the Power Unit, only two drivers have numbers in red, indicating that they have already exceeded the allowed threshold. In this case, the drivers in question are Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez. The Monegasque has already used 4 control electronics and 3 energy stores, which led to a penalty in Jeddah. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, has used 3 control electronics and 3 batteries, starting from the pit lane at the Australian GP.

Updated PU parts used by each driver in 2023

As for the gearbox and transmission, surprisingly Max Verstappen is among the drivers at risk, having already used three of the four allowed for the season. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hulkenberg are also at risk in this category. All the other drivers, on the other hand, are at 2 units.