(Motorsport-Total.com) – Managing engine parts remains an important topic in the new Formula 1 era of 2026. Five drivers have already had to accept engine penalties for exceeding their quota, and many others will face them after the summer break: At Mercedes, they are already considering on which track they will apply the penalty drop for championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
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Because the Italian will almost certainly exceed the limit on one or more components after several defects in the first half of the season: Antonelli has already reached the limit on engine, battery, control electronics, and exhaust set. Teammate Russell also has to be careful with battery and control electronics.
It is mainly these two elements where teams are having trouble staying within the allowed quota in 2026: All five drivers who received a grid penalty this year exceeded the limit on one of these two parts (see overview of grid penalties).
Lando Norris (McLaren) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) installed their fourth control electronics in Spa – with three allowed – and each had to drop ten places.
For Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), this was already the case at the fourth (!) race of the season in Miami, along with the fourth battery – he started from the pit lane. The Frenchman was also penalized again in Belgium: For the fifth engine, turbocharger, and exhaust (four are allowed), he started from the back of the field.
Aston Martin with the most penalties so far
The kings of penalties so far are Aston Martin, although this has not had major sporting consequences. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have even reached their fifth battery and control electronics and had to accept two penalties each.
| Driver | Grand Prix | Engine parts | Count | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norris | Belgium | Control electronics | 4 of 3 | +10 places |
| Hadjar | Miami | Energy storage | 4 of 3 | Start from pit lane |
| Control electronics | 4 of 3 | |||
| Belgium | Engine | 5 of 4 | End of field | |
| Turbocharger | 5 of 4 | |||
| Exhaust | 5 of 4 | |||
| Sainz | Belgium | Control electronics | 4 of 3 | +10 places |
| Alonso | Barcelona | Energy storage | 4 of 3 | Start from pit lane |
| Control electronics | 4 of 3 | |||
| MGU-K | 4 of 3 | |||
| Belgium | Energy storage | 5 of 3 | End of field | |
| Control electronics | 5 of 3 | |||
| Ancillary components | 7 of 6 | |||
| Stroll | Canada | Energy storage | 4 of 3 | Start from pit lane |
| Control electronics | 4 of 3 | |||
| Great Britain | Energy storage | 5 of 3 | +10 places | |
| Control electronics | 5 of 3 | |||
| Belgium | MGU-K | 4 of 3 | +10 places |
Alonso is also the only driver who has exceeded the limit of six units for ancillary components, of which a whole table is listed in Appendix C4.
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However, teammate Stroll is the only driver who has already received three grid penalties, as he did not include his fourth MGU-K in another penalty like Alonso did.
Five drivers can still stay calm
For the rest of the season, other drivers also face penalties: Besides the already mentioned Mercedes drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) must be careful, as they are already at the allowed limit for MGU-K, battery, and electronics, just like the two customer teams Haas and Cadillac.
Nico Hülkenberg has already had three MGU-Ks in his Audi, as has teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, who also has a problem with control electronics. Alexander Albon (Williams) and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) are at the limit for battery and electronics.
Five drivers do not have to worry yet, as they are not currently in danger with any engine element: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
For the 2027 Formula 1 season, the quota will be even tighter: The rule that all manufacturers get one additional component per element in the first year will then be removed.
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