The retirements of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc in the closing laps of the Spanish Grand Prix were merely the latest high-profile examples of a growing trend. Reliability can no longer be taken for granted as it was in recent years, particularly when it comes to power units, although the issue extends beyond the engines themselves.
It is no coincidence that after just seven races there have already been 38 retirements, including several non-starts. The primary cause can easily be traced to the introduction of the new power units, which feature an almost equal split between internal combustion engine output and electrical power.
However, the new power units have also had indirect consequences for car design. The pursuit of greater packaging efficiency, aimed at maximizing aerodynamic performance, has forced engineers to dramatically miniaturize critical systems such as cooling components.
At the same time, the need to reduce car weight in order to meet a minimum weight target that is 30 kilograms lower than in 2025 has pushed teams toward increasingly lightweight components throughout auxiliary systems. One example is the power steering system that ultimately caused Charles Leclerc’s retirement in Barcelona.
The result has been a combination of two factors: an extremely aggressive hybrid philosophy focused on electrical performance and the relentless drive to reduce overall vehicle weight. Together, they have created a new generation of Formula 1 cars that are faster but also more vulnerable to technical failures.
Mercedes-powered teams suffer the most
An analysis of the retirements shows that Mercedes-powered teams have been affected more than any other manufacturer. The power unit developed in Brixworth has displayed several weaknesses since the beginning of the season. With the exception of the Japanese Grand Prix, at least one Mercedes-powered car has recorded either a retirement or a non-start in every race.
The most frequent issues have involved the electrical systems and auxiliary components. Mercedes suffered a battery failure with George Russell in Canada and Kimi Antonelli’s retirement in Barcelona was caused by the same problem.
McLaren has experienced MGU-K electronic blackouts as well as hydraulic failures, resulting in four retirements and non-starts shared between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Williams has been hit by gearbox failures and ERS control unit short circuits, accumulating four retirements between Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz.
Alpine has also encountered problems, with Pierre Gasly retiring in Miami following a complete loss of electrical power.
Red Bull, Honda and Audi face their own challenges
Other manufacturers have not escaped reliability issues either. Red Bull-Ford has demonstrated impressive performance but has yet to achieve the same level of reliability. Max Verstappen suffered two costly retirements in China and Monaco due to sudden power losses and software management errors. Isack Hadjar was forced out by turbocharger and exhaust system failures. Racing Bulls, which uses the same power unit, experienced cooling system leaks on Liam Lawson’s car and electronic throttle problems on Arvid Lindblad’s machine.
The issues affecting the Honda power unit used by Aston Martin were also evident from the opening rounds of the season. Numerous retirements occurred during the early races due to severe battery vibrations, a problem that was reportedly resolved only toward the end of May.
Audi’s debut campaign has also proved challenging. The German manufacturer has dealt with multiple electronic-related issues, including power unit software faults, fuel supply problems, and MGU-K malfunctions. These problems resulted in four retirements shared between Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Ferrari power units prove the most reliable
As for Ferrari, whose power units are used by the Scuderia as well as Cadillac and Haas, the overall picture is considerably more positive. Cadillac has experienced issues related to internal combustion engine operating temperatures and fuel system failures, resulting in five retirements shared between Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Haas has suffered transmission and cooling system problems, but these incidents have been relatively limited compared to some rivals.
Then there is Scuderia Ferrari itself. The Maranello-based team recorded two consecutive retirements for Charles Leclerc in Monaco and Barcelona, but only the second was caused by a genuine mechanical issue, specifically a failure in the hydraulic power steering system. As a result, the Ferrari-built power unit and, more broadly, the technical package used by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have emerged as the most reliable combination among the leading teams.
In a season where performance differences between the front-running teams are extremely small, reliability could become a decisive factor in the championship battle. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff recently emphasized this point, stating that the issue which forced Kimi Antonelli out of the Spanish Grand Prix was unacceptable because it was the same problem that had already stopped George Russell in Canada. According to Wolff, winning championships starts with one simple requirement: reaching the finish line.
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