After 4 Grands Prix out of a 24-race calendar (plus the Dash), the reliability scenario is beginning to get attention-grabbing.
Yesterday, the FIA confirmed that, for the Saudi Arabian GP, all Purple Bull Powertrains-powered drivers – particularly Purple Bull and Racing Bulls – concurrently changed 4 energy unit parts: ICE (inside combustion engine), TC (turbocharger), MGU-H, and MGU-Ok. This mass substitute is fully authorized (because it entails the second of the 4 components permitted for almost all parts), however it raises quite a lot of warning bells inside RBPT.
In contrast to different engine producers, Purple Bull-associated groups are the one ones to have changed so many elements concurrently this early, at simply the fifth spherical of the season. It’s onerous to suppose it’s only a coincidence: the acute warmth in Jeddah and knowledge gathered from sensors on the finish of the earlier race could have prompted engineers to keep away from dangers and make early replacements. Nevertheless, the frequency of those interventions means that some facet of thermal administration or mechanical reliability wants nearer consideration, particularly since any additional substitute of both the management electronics or batteries will lead to a 10-place grid penalty for all 4 RBPT drivers (George Russell can also be in the identical scenario along with his Mercedes).
As a result of a mixture of reliability issues, rain-related crashes in Australia, incidents in China, and points throughout apply periods in Japan, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, and Liam Lawson had already used the second of the 4 accessible energy items. With in the present day’s replacements, Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson are successfully approaching three, whereas Gasly now reaches two.
Amid a very difficult begin to the season, there may be excellent news from Ferrari, which, like McLaren, Aston Martin, Sauber, and Williams, has not skilled any reliability points.
With such a protracted championship, automobile reliability might be a vital issue within the battle for the World Championships, particularly because the rules restrict what number of parts may be changed on a automobile earlier than grid penalties are utilized. Specifically, energy unit elements and people associated to the gearbox and transmission are carefully monitored.
In keeping with the rules (Article 28.2), throughout the 2025 season, a driver could not use greater than 4 ICEs, 4 MGU-Hs, 4 MGU-Ks, and 4 turbochargers (TC), 2 batteries (ES), 2 management electronics (CE), and eight exhaust methods.
Up to date desk of elements utilized by every driver in 2025 (after the Bahrain GP and the FIA doc dated 18-04)
N. | Scuderia | Pilota | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-Ok | ES | CE | EX |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
81 | McLaren | Oscar Piastri | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
04 | McLaren | Lando Norris | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
16 | Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
44 | Ferrari | Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
01 | Purple Bull | Max Verstappen | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
22 | Purple Bull | Yuki Tsunoda | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
63 | Mercedes | George Russell | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
12 | Mercedes | Kimi Antonelli | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
18 | Aston Martin | Lance Stroll | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
14 | Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
10 | Alpine | Pierre Gasly | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
07 | Alpine | Jack Doohan | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
31 | Haas | Esteban Ocon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
87 | Haas | Olivier Bearman | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
06 | RBR | Isack Hadjar | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
30 | RBR | Liam Lawson | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
23 | Williams | Alexander Albon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
55 | Williams | Carlos Sainz | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
27 | Sauber | Gabriel Bortoleto | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
05 | Sauber | Nico Hulkenberg | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |