Engine-related grid penalties remain a key topic of conversation as the Formula 1 paddock moves on to Interlagos for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
After Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed "rumours" of an engine penalty for Lewis Hamilton this weekend, neither the Briton nor Mercedes ruled out the possibility, with the team explaining that any change will only be confirmed through the FIA's official documentation.
For the 2021 campaign, teams are allowed to use three Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), three Turbochargers, three MGU-Hs, three MGU-Ks, two Energy Stores, two Control Electronics and eight Exhausts per car without incurring a penalty.
In Hamilton's case, as he has already exceeded his permitted number of ICEs, which triggered a 10-place grid penalty for the first offence, moving onto a fifth unit would result in a lesser drop of five positions.
Of the 20 drivers on the 2021 grid, only four are yet to receive a grid penalty for a fourth engine change. All four of these drivers use a Ferrari unit: Alfa Romeo pair Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi and Haas rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas is still the driver with the most engine changes so far. He is using his sixth Mercedes engine of the season.
2021 power unit elements used
| Driver | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-K | ES | CE | EX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Bottas | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Verstappen | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Perez | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Ricciardo | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Norris | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Stroll | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Vettel | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Alonso | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Ocon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Leclerc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Sainz | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Tsunoda | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Gasly | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Raikkonen | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Giovinazzi | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Mazepin | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Schumacher | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Russell | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Latifi | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
2021 power unit allowance
| Power unit part | Allowance |
|---|---|
| ICE | 3 |
| TC | 3 |
| MGU-H | 3 |
| MGU-K | 3 |
| ES | 2 |
| CE | 2 |
| EX | 8 |
ICE – Internal Combustion Engine, TC – Turbocharger, MGU-H – Motor Generator Unit Heat, MGU-K – Motor Generator Unit Kinetic, ES – Energy Store, CE – Control Electronics, EX – Exhaust System.
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