After 4 Grands Prix out of a 24-race calendar (plus the Dash), the reliability scenario is beginning to get fascinating.
Yesterday, the FIA confirmed that, for the Saudi Arabian GP, all Crimson Bull Powertrains-powered drivers – specifically Crimson Bull and Racing Bulls – concurrently changed 4 energy unit parts: ICE (inner combustion engine), TC (turbocharger), MGU-H, and MGU-Ok. This mass alternative is solely authorized (because it includes 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, Crimson 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 arduous to assume it’s only a coincidence: the acute warmth in Jeddah and information gathered from sensors on the finish of the earlier race might have prompted engineers to keep away from dangers and make early replacements. Nonetheless, the frequency of those interventions means that some facet of thermal administration or mechanical reliability wants nearer consideration, particularly since any additional alternative of both the management electronics or batteries will end in a 10-place grid penalty for all 4 RBPT drivers (George Russell can be in the identical scenario along with his Mercedes).
As a consequence of a mixture of reliability issues, rain-related crashes in Australia, incidents in China, and points throughout follow periods in Japan, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, and Liam Lawson had already used the second of the 4 obtainable energy items. With at the moment’s replacements, Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson are successfully approaching three, whereas Gasly now reaches two.
Amid a very sophisticated 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 can be a vital issue within the combat for the World Championships, particularly because the rules restrict what number of parts might be changed on a automobile earlier than grid penalties are utilized. Particularly, energy unit elements and people associated to the gearbox and transmission are intently monitored.
In keeping with the rules (Article 28.2), throughout the 2025 season, a driver might 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 techniques.
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 | Crimson Bull | Max Verstappen | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
22 | Crimson 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 |