Ever since Formula 1 entered the hybrid era, the FIA has placed an upper limit on the different parts that make up the complex V6 turbo power units of each of the manufacturers.
In the F1 sporting regulations for the 2021 season, it is established, specifically in article 23.2a, that – “unless a driver competes for more than one team” – he may not use more than three internal combustion engines, three turbochargers, two batteries, two electronic controls, three MGU-Ks, three MGU-Hs, and “eight of each of the four elements that make up the exhaust system.”
Thus, if any driver exceeds the number of units of the aforementioned components during the season, he will incur a penalty on the grid, as established in article 23.2b .
Penalties if the engine component limit is exceeded in Formula 1 2021
-The first time the number of pieces allowed is exceeded, 10 penalty positions will be imposed on the grid.
-The following occasions in which the allowed number of that same component is exceeded again will be 5 positions on the grid.
Of course, the FIA specifies that if a pilot exceeds the 15 penalty positions on the grid, he will have to start from the last position, regardless of the position in which he qualified.
In addition, “if a driver introduces more than one new component subject to a penalty, only the last one to install it will be able to continue using it in the following events without receiving new penalties.”
This is what happened to Valtteri Bottas , who came out at the bottom of the peloton in Monza despite having achieved pole position after Mercedes changed its engine.
Table of engine parts used by each F1 driver 2021 (before the Mexican GP)
| Pilot | Engine | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-K | ES | CE | EX |
 |
Mercedes | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
 |
Mercedes | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
 |
Honda RA621H V6 t h | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
 |
Honda RA621H V6 th | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
 |
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
|
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
 |
Ferrari 066 V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
 |
Ferrari 066 V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
 |
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
 |
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
|
Renault E-Tech 21 V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
 |
Renault E-Tech 21 V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
 |
Honda RA621H V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
|
Honda RA621H V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
|
|
Ferrari 066 V6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
 |
Ferrari 066 V6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
|
Ferrari 066 V6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
 |
Ferrari 066 V6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
|
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
|
Mercedes M12 E Performance V6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
ICE: internal combustion engine
TC: turbocharger
MGU-H: heat energy recovery unit
MGU-K – Kinetic Energy Recovery Unit
EN: battery
CE: electronic control
EX: escapes
Who is on the brink of a penalty in F1 for engine changes?
As you can see in the table, the vast majority are in trouble. Any driver who has to change the internal combustion engine in the remaining races will receive a penalty, the same goes for the turbocharger and the MGU-H .
Checo Pérez was the first to incur a penalty at the Dutch GP, but Red Bull wanted the Mexican to come to the Italian GP with a practically new engine and its long straights.
As for the MGU-K , Ocon, Hamilton , the AlphaTauri and Norris are also at the limit of their sanction. Alonso penalized for the first time so far this year in Austin, by changing several parts of his power unit and being the first to pass the 8 exhausts.
For his part, Bottas, who already received a sanction in Monza, would only receive a five-position penalty if he mounts his fourth element of the pieces whose limit has already been exceeded (you can see it in the table).
If we focus on the title candidates, Verstappen opted to enter his first penalty in Sochi, while Hamilton finally did so in Turkey.
