Singapore GP power unit situation: Ferrari stays at limit as George Russell takes new components

George Russell has become the biggest power-unit story of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend after Mercedes introduced six new components, taking the British driver beyond his 2026 seasonal allocation in six separate categories. The changes arrive at a crucial stage of the championship, when power-unit management is becoming increasingly difficult across the grid and more drivers are reaching or exceeding the limits permitted under the regulations.

Russell had spent most of the season without going beyond any of his allowances, but the Marina Bay weekend has completely changed that picture. His Mercedes has received a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, exhaust system, MGU-K, Energy Store and power-unit control electronics. As a result, 11 drivers have now exceeded at least one of the component limits during the 2026 season.

The regulations permit 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. The updated Singapore figures are based on FIA Technical Delegate reports published between 9 and 10 October, with previously used parts that were merely refitted distinguished from genuinely new seasonal components.

F1 2026 power unit usage after the Singapore GP updates

The table below reflects the component situation after FIA Technical Delegate Reports Nos. 10, 19, 38 and 57. A figure above the seasonal allocation does not automatically indicate a fresh Singapore penalty, because some drivers had already exceeded their limits at earlier Grands Prix.

George Russell exceeds six power unit limits in Singapore

The most significant change concerns George Russell. FIA Technical Delegate Report No. 19, issued on Friday 9 October, recorded the introduction of a fifth ICE, fifth turbocharger, fifth exhaust system and fourth MGU-K. Each of those components took Russell beyond its respective annual allocation for the first time, making the decision a substantial change in Mercedes’ power-unit strategy.

Mercedes then went further on Saturday. FIA Report No. 57 confirmed that Russell had also received a fourth Energy Store and fourth PU-CE. His totals therefore rise to five ICEs, five turbos, five exhaust systems, four MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores and four control-electronics units. Only the auxiliary component category still provides regulatory headroom.

The timing is notable because Russell had previously remained within every power-unit allowance, effectively providing Mercedes with a strong reliability benchmark during the season. That run ended after his retirement in Malaysia, which was attributed to power-unit trouble.

Kimi Antonelli is in a different position. The Italian had already incurred a penalty at Monza after reaching five ICEs, four Energy Stores and four PU-CEs. He still has room available in the turbocharger, exhaust and MGU-K categories.

With the championship entering its closing phase, power-unit availability is becoming an increasingly important factor across the remaining rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari reaches the limit but avoids exceeding its allocation

Ferrari’s situation remains largely unchanged from Sepang. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have each used four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers, four exhaust systems, three MGU-Ks, three Energy Stores, three PU-CEs and six auxiliary components.

That leaves both Ferrari drivers exactly on the permitted limit in every power-unit category, but neither has yet exceeded an allocation. The distinction is important: although there is no remaining margin for a completely new component without consequences, the figures do not show a regulatory breach at this stage.

Further updates on the seven-time world champion throughout the season can be followed in the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari section, while developments involving his team-mate are collected in the Charles Leclerc Ferrari section.

Max Verstappen also reaches the ceiling as Isack Hadjar goes far beyond it

Max Verstappen is in a similar position to the Ferrari pair. The Red Bull driver has reached the maximum permitted number of ICEs, turbochargers, exhaust systems, MGU-Ks, Energy Stores and PU-CEs. He still has one auxiliary power-unit component available and has not yet gone beyond the regulatory limit in any category.

Isack Hadjar’s situation is considerably more advanced. His totals stand at seven ICEs, six turbochargers, six exhaust systems, four MGU-Ks, four Energy Stores, four PU-CEs and seven PU-ANCs.

Red Bull changed Hadjar’s internal combustion engine and turbo during parc ferme before the Sprint, together with other fuel-system elements. However, FIA Report No. 38 specified that both major power-unit components had already been used earlier in the season. They were therefore refitted rather than added as new seasonal units, leaving his numerical totals unchanged.

McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin power unit situations

Lando Norris and Franco Colapinto both received a fifth PU-ANC according to the 9 October documentation. Because the regulations permit six of those components, neither change creates a new penalty. Norris is nevertheless already beyond the limit with his fourth PU-CE, while Colapinto had previously exceeded his ICE allowance with a fifth unit at the preceding Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri remains in a comparatively healthier position than his McLaren team-mate. He has reached the maximum allocation for the ICE, Energy Store and PU-CE, while retaining spare capacity in the other categories.

Aston Martin continues to record some of the highest totals on the grid. Lance Stroll has already used seven Energy Stores and eight auxiliary components, while Fernando Alonso stands at nine PU-ANCs, seven Energy Stores and six PU-CEs. Both drivers have exceeded the limit in almost every category, although the reviewed FIA documentation does not record any new seasonal units being introduced for them in Singapore.

Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman are also among those who have already gone beyond at least one allocation. Lindblad reached five ICEs, five turbochargers and five exhaust systems following his Malaysia replacements. Liam Lawson, by comparison, has four units in each of those categories and remains at, rather than above, the permitted maximum.

How George Russell’s Singapore GP penalty adds up

Russell is the central penalty case of the Singapore weekend. The Mercedes changes take him beyond the seasonal allowance for the first time in six different component categories: ICE, turbocharger, exhaust, MGU-K, Energy Store and PU-CE.

Using the standard 10-place penalty for the first additional component in each category, the theoretical cumulative figure reaches 60 grid positions. That number is primarily a regulatory calculation, because such a total is far greater than the threshold required to send a driver to the rear of the starting grid.

There is no comparable new penalty for Norris or Colapinto because their fifth auxiliary units remain within the six-component allowance. Hadjar’s Singapore changes also do not create another penalty because his ICE and turbocharger were previously used components that were refitted with FIA authorisation.

The final Singapore Grand Prix penalty picture remains dependent on any further decisions issued by the Stewards and on any additional component changes made before the race.