The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend at Sepang has opened with the 2026 Formula 1 power unit situation becoming increasingly sensitive. New FIA Technical Delegate documents show three drivers introducing components outside their permitted seasonal allocation, while Ferrari has reached the limit across every power unit category with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto have now joined the group of drivers already beyond the permitted allocation in at least one category, taking the total to ten. The existing list includes Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman.
Several other drivers remain technically within the regulations but have almost no margin available. Max Verstappen, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon have all reached the permitted limit for most of the major power unit elements.
F1 2026 power unit allocations at the Bahrain GP
Under the 2026 regulations, each driver is permitted four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers and four exhaust sets across the season. The allocation also includes three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three power unit control electronics units and six PU-ANC components.
The FIA Technical Delegate’s second report of the Sepang weekend has already changed the picture. Isack Hadjar has moved onto a seventh ICE, Arvid Lindblad has introduced a fifth ICE, fifth turbo, fifth exhaust set and sixth PU-ANC, while Franco Colapinto has fitted a fifth ICE. Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, has moved onto his fourth ICE and fourth turbo.
The full component usage following the FIA Technical Delegate’s Report of 2 October 2026 is as follows:
| No. | Team | Driver | ICE | TC | EXH | MGU-K | ES | PU-CE | PU-ANC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | McLaren | Oscar Piastri | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 01 | McLaren | Lando Norris | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 63 | Mercedes | George Russell | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | Mercedes | Kimi Antonelli | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 03 | Red Bull | Max Verstappen | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 06 | Red Bull | Isack Hadjar | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| 16 | Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 44 | Ferrari | Lewis Hamilton | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 23 | Williams | Alexander Albon | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 55 | Williams | Carlos Sainz | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 41 | Racing Bulls | Arvid Lindblad | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 30 | Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | Aston Martin | Lance Stroll | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| 14 | Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| 31 | Haas | Esteban Ocon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 87 | Haas | Oliver Bearman | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 27 | Audi | Nico Hülkenberg | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 05 | Audi | Gabriel Bortoleto | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Alpine | Pierre Gasly | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Alpine | Franco Colapinto | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Cadillac | Sergio Perez | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 77 | Cadillac | Valtteri Bottas | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Three drivers go beyond their allocation at Sepang
The first component changes of the weekend carry direct consequences for Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto. Hadjar’s seventh ICE is outside his seasonal allocation after he had already used six engines before arriving at Sepang.
Lindblad crosses the limit in three separate categories at the same time. The Racing Bulls driver has moved onto a fifth ICE, fifth turbo and fifth exhaust set, while his sixth PU-ANC remains within the permitted allocation. The combination of those three out-of-allocation components leaves him facing a particularly substantial grid penalty, subject to the relevant formal decisions from the Stewards.
Colapinto has exceeded his ICE allowance for the first time by installing a fifth internal combustion engine. Bottas is in a different position: his fourth ICE and fourth turbo use the final permitted units in those categories, meaning neither replacement by itself puts him over the limit.
Ferrari reaches the limit with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari’s power unit position has not changed since Baku, but there is now no remaining allocation margin. Both Leclerc and Hamilton have used four ICEs, four turbochargers, four exhaust sets, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and six PU-ANCs.
Both drivers therefore remain within the permitted allocation, but any additional component in any of those categories would put them beyond the seasonal limit. That makes reliability and component management an increasingly important consideration for the remainder of Ferrari’s campaign. Further coverage of the SF-26 and its power unit development is available in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
Mercedes also faces a delicate power unit picture
George Russell is in a position similar to the Ferrari drivers across most categories. The Mercedes driver has reached four ICEs, four turbochargers, four exhaust sets, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores and three PU-CEs. His only remaining margin is in the PU-ANC allocation.
Kimi Antonelli has already crossed the permitted threshold in several areas, having reached a fifth ICE, fourth Energy Store and fourth PU-CE.
McLaren also has limited room to manoeuvre. Oscar Piastri has reached his allocation ceiling with a fourth ICE, third Energy Store and third PU-CE, while Lando Norris is already beyond the PU-CE limit with his fourth unit and has also reached the maximum permitted number of ICEs and Energy Stores.
Isack Hadjar and Aston Martin show the most extreme numbers
Hadjar’s latest engine change makes an already exceptional power unit tally even larger. The Red Bull driver now stands at seven ICEs, six turbochargers, six exhaust sets, four MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and seven PU-ANCs.
The largest overall component totals, however, continue to belong to Aston Martin. Lance Stroll has used five ICEs, six turbos, three exhaust sets, five MGU-Ks, seven Energy Stores, six PU-CEs and eight PU-ANCs.
Fernando Alonso has reached five ICEs, five turbochargers, three exhaust sets, five MGU-Ks, seven Energy Stores, six PU-CEs and nine PU-ANCs. Both Aston Martin drivers are therefore already well beyond their permitted allocation across most categories.
The power unit situation can still evolve during the Sepang weekend. Further FIA Technical Delegate reports and formal Stewards’ decisions will determine whether additional components are introduced and what penalties follow, leaving Ferrari among several teams with very little room for further changes as the 2026 season continues.
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