Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, Circuit de Catalunya, 2018

No penalties as 10 drivers take new power unit parts in Canada

2018 Canadian Grand Prix

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Both Ferraris, all six Renault-engined cars and the two Honda-powered drivers have taken new power unit components for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. None of the 10 have incurred any penalties for the changes yet.

Daniel Ricciardo, Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly have all moved on to their third engines (ICE), which is the last new one they can use this year. Six other drivers have taken new engines, leaving all but the Mercedes-powered drivers on at least their second ICEs.

Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen have both taken their third turbochargers and will receive a penalty if they fit another new one this year. Five other drivers have new turbochargers for this weekend.

The two Renault factory drivers are in a similar situation after taking their third MGU-Hs – one more will mean a penalty.

Ricciardo was expected to take a penalty after damaging his second and final MGU-K during the Monaco Grand Prix. However the team is attempting to get through the weekend using an old MGU-K in the hope of avoiding a penalty.

None of the Mercedes-powered drivers and none of the four Ferrari customer cars have taken any new power unit parts.

Drivers’ power units parts as of first practice for the Canadian Grand Prix

No.CarEngineDriverICETCMGU-HMGU-KESCE
28Toro RossoHondaBrendon Hartley333222
3Red BullTAG HeuerDaniel Ricciardo333222
10Toro RossoHondaPierre Gasly333222
33Red BullTAG HeuerMax Verstappen232312
7FerrariFerrariKimi Raikkonen232112
55RenaultRenaultCarlos Sainz Jnr223112
27RenaultRenaultNico Hulkenberg223112
20HaasFerrariKevin Magnussen222122
5FerrariFerrariSebastian Vettel222112
2McLarenRenaultStoffel Vandoorne222112
14McLarenRenaultFernando Alonso222211
31SauberFerrariCharles Leclerc222111
9SauberFerrariMarcus Ericsson222111
8HaasFerrariRomain Grosjean222111
77MercedesMercedesValtteri Bottas111122
11Force IndiaMercedesSergio Perez111121
44MercedesMercedesLewis Hamilton111111
31Force IndiaMercedesEsteban Ocon111111
18WilliamsMercedesLance Stroll111111
35WilliamsMercedesSergey Sitorkin111111

Drivers may use a maximum of three ICE, TC and MGU-H during the season, and a maximum of two MGU-K, ES and CE. If they use more than this they receive a grid penalty.

ICE: Internal Combustion Engine • TC: Turbocharger • MGU-K: Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic • MGU-H: Moto Generator Unit: Heat • ES: Energy Store • CE: Control Electronics

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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13 comments on “No penalties as 10 drivers take new power unit parts in Canada”

  1. None of the Mercedes-powered drivers… have taken any new power unit parts.

    No surprises there, given the earlier article…

    none of the four Ferrari customer cars have taken any new power unit parts.

    … but this is a surprise. Didn’t Haas run the new spec of engine in Monaco? At least on Thursday, if not the entire weekend? So why aren’t they using that PU here?

    1. @phylyp It says Haas haven’t taken new parts THIS weekend.

      1. @enigma – ha ha, thanks for that, a bad reading comprehension fail on my part. That’s the effect of 5 days of work!

        1. It happens :) Haas drivers are mostly on 2nd components.

  2. Keith! What a wonderful chart! Thanks very much for making sense of all the loose talk Iread elsewhere!

    1. @gwbridge You’re welcome :-)

  3. So not even halfway through the season and quite a few of the teams are on their last allotment of parts before incurring penalties…I always thought 3 of each was a bit of a stretch. Is it safe to assume they may reuse some parts on circuits that are less power demanding? For example Mercedes know they are weak on tracks like Monaco and Singapore, so would they throw on some old parts knowing a full power unit upgrade isn’t going to improve their chances by much?

  4. I thought the MGU-K was in the hub of each wheel. If so, does the failure of an MGU-K on Ricciardo’s car mean two or four MGU-K failed, or does it mean he’s running 3 new and one old?

    1. @ Stephen As far as I am aware, the MGU – K is a single unit atached to the crank shaft of the ice

      1. Yes its all part of the power unit package, theres nothing in the wheelhouses.

  5. Goes to show that Mercedes are definitely not on the back foot even though they couldn’t introduce their new spec engine in Canada. In the larger scheme of things and relative to others, they are in the best position.

    If they really thought their performance would be compromised in Canada, they could’ve used a new ICE here just like the others.

    1. F1 fan in Atlanta
      8th June 2018, 20:44

      I think it’s more a matter of where you think the price is worth it. Canada is a power track but if everyone updates now and then is getting close on the final unit later in the season, MB can keep their third until later and later into the season with the potential they COULD make up any lost points in Canada. They could wait and be able to use a new one at Spa or Monza and reap that advantage then. Assuming they could fit their third that early and be able to reuse engines 1 or 2 later as needed.

      Plus, the later you can make each run, successfully, the more options you have in hand for late season replacement. DR is on the back foot with the damaged parts now, not much option to reuse later if you’re replacing them for damage. I would like to see ONE SINGULAR racing incident repair per car. Not sure whether I’d allow one ‘power unit’ repair and one transmission or you’d have to chose one of the ICE, MGU-H, MGU-K or transmission. And would only be allowed with evidence shown the problem was caused by a racing incident, especially if you were punted by another driver. And it should be the same spec as the previous, no free upgrading allowed. A penalty for replacing a part damaged by another’s racing stupidity should be free. Of course it may actually be free and I just haven’t paid attention that closely.

  6. Correct me if I’m off base here, but I don’t see how this season doesn’t end in a wash of penalties completely affecting the championship standings, to the detriment of the sport and the fans.

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