Two Honda-powered cars have required engine component changes after the first race weekend of the 2022 season. Heading into the second round in Saudi Arabia, Red Bull's Sergio Perez has taken on some fresh components in the back of his RB18. The Mexican is running a new Turbocharger and a new MGU-H in his Red Bull Powertrains-badged Honda power unit. However, he won't be required to take any grid penalty as a consequence. Each driver is permitted three of each of these components over the course of the season. With Perez moving onto his second of each, the changes don't trigger a penalty. However, once Perez moves onto his fourth of either of these particular components, he will be forced to take a 10-place grid penalty for the race weekend at which it is introduced.
Gasly changes out the entire power unit
While Perez has only required selected new power unit components, AlphaTauri have fitted Pierre Gasly's car out with a completely new power unit after his dramatic and fiery exit from the Bahrain Grand Prix. Asked by RacingNews365.com in Saudi Arabia what caused his retirement, Gasly confirmed it was "battery-related", while "there was a shortcut and it was enough to start the fire". Gasly has taken on a fresh Internal Combustion Engine, Turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, Energy Store, and Control Electronics. He is onto the second of each component. All have a season limit of three, aside from the Energy Store and the Control Electronics, which both have a limit of two. If the components are damaged beyond the point of being kept in his season pool, Gasly could be on the brink of an engine penalty sooner than he might have anticipated. Separately, Gasly's car has been fitted out with a new Exhaust System. Eight such systems are permitted for the season.
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