Red Bull has chosen Baku, where the eighth round of the 2022 Formula 1 season takes place this weekend, as the setting for the first complete engine change in its single-seaters.
Max Verstappen was able to finish all the previous weekends on his first power unit despite problems with the tank and fuel supply, while his teammate, Sergio Pérez , had to change the turbo and MGU-H .
For the appointment in the urban circuit of Baku, both drivers will be able to count on new parts in their engines. It is, logically, the same specification that they have used since the beginning of the course in Bahrain, since the development of the engines is frozen.
The changes to Red Bull’s power units are strategic . The new elements offer a slight increase in performance, especially thanks to the internal combustion engine, so the change before two consecutive races in circuits such as Baku and Montreal, where the pedal is depressed for a large percentage of the lap, demonstrates the plan of the team led by Christian Horner .
Important changes in the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc
Red Bull is not the only team to have fitted new parts to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Milton Keynes’ main rival for the title, Charles Leclerc , may not have a completely new engine, but Ferrari will introduce a fresh turbo and exhaust system.
Drivers are entitled to eight exhaust systems a year, so there’s still plenty of room, but there’s a maximum of three for turbochargers. With the change in Baku, the Monegasque is already on his third element in 2022, and another change would mean a grid penalty.
Like Red Bull, Lance Stroll , with the Aston Martin, and the two Williamses, Alexander Albon ‘s and Nicholas Latifi’s, have also opted to fit an entirely new power unit. Daniel Ricciardo , meanwhile, will have a revamped internal combustion engine, like the MGU-H and MGU-K.
