The FIA announced on Friday that six drivers, including Max Verstappen, will be using a new engine at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This is the fourth engine of the season for all six drivers – the last permitted engine change without the drivers incurring a grid penalty. If a fifth engine is installed, the drivers, including Verstappen, face a penalty.
In addition to Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto have also had their fourth engine components installed. For all six, this includes a complete set consisting of the combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, and the MGU-K. For five of the six drivers, new exhausts have also been added to the package – only Alexander Albon did not receive a new exhaust for his FW47. The changes took place prior to the first free practice at Monza.
Last engine change without grid penalty
Under current regulations, teams are allowed to use a maximum of four engines per season without penalty. If this limit is exceeded, a grid penalty automatically follows. The first violation usually results in a ten-place penalty, followed by smaller penalties, such as five places, per additional component. This means that teams must strategically plan their engine usage, especially towards the end of the season or on circuits with high engine usage – like Monza.
