Formula 1 is getting ready to return to the track after a long break with the United States Grand Prix in Austin. There are only six races left to the end of a championship that is still wide open both for the fight for the drivers' title, which sees Max Verstappen in the lead but with Lando Norris getting ever closer, and for the constructors' title, with McLaren appearing to have taken the lead. In addition to the tension for the battles on the track, however, there is another crucial factor to keep an eye on: the penalties for the replacement of Power Unit components that could have an impact as early as Austin.
Power Unit, Penalty Lurking in Austin
At this point in the season, with several power units already at the limit, many teams could be forced to fit new components to their racing cars, thus incurring penalties. A risk that is becoming increasingly concrete, also considering that we still have three Sprint weekends ahead of us, where the opportunities to accumulate points are greater, but also the stress on the engines is more intense.
So far, in the last few races held, there have been no major upheavals in the power unit management strategies, but the Texan weekend could represent a turning point. With the arrival of particularly stressful circuits for the engines such as Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas, Austin could be the place where some teams decide to serve penalties in advance, taking advantage of the opportunities for a comeback offered by the American track.
Mercedes had to replace Lewis Hamilton's power unit at the start of the season, forcing the seven-time world champion to incur his first penalty due to a failure in Australia. Esteban Ocon, Zhou Guanyu and Lando Norris are also on the verge of possible sanctions. In particular, Norris has already changed the fourth transmission and is now on the brink of a penalty that could complicate his pursuit of Verstappen. Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas could also find themselves in the same situation in the upcoming races.
An intense season finale
The calendar between now and the end of the year includes six Grands Prix, half of which also include a Sprint Race. This means that the engines will be put under even more pressure, with little opportunity for the power units to rest. In particular, the races in Mexico and Brazil will take place in particularly harsh environmental conditions, with high temperatures and altitude significantly increasing the stress on the engines.
Las Vegas, in its second year as a stop on the F1 calendar, is a circuit that will demand maximum performance from the engine, with long straights and high speeds that could push teams to fit new components precisely to avoid risks in the final races of the season. On a track like Austin, where overtaking is possible, some teams could therefore choose to accept penalties now to avoid problems later.
Drivers in the balance: who risks a penalty?
Looking at the current state of the components used, several drivers could find themselves having to fit new parts in the upcoming races. Verstappen and Perez have both reached the maximum limit of permitted power units, with the Dutchman having already used five ICE engines, one more than the maximum allowed, earning a penalty in Belgium five races ago. With six races still to go (including 3 with Sprint weekends), it is inevitable that another penalty will also arrive for the Dutchman. Hamilton is also in a delicate situation, having already used five power units and as many MGU-H and MGU-K.
Among the drivers who could incur penalties are also Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, both with four power units already used and close to the limit. For McLaren, Lando Norris has already changed four engines, and with the title fight still open, the team will have to be very careful with its strategic choices in the final races. A penalty is also expected at Racing Bulls, in particular for Lawson who will take over from Austin as a replacement for Ricciardo.
The pilots table, with the components used so far
| Rider | ICE | TC | MGU-H | MGU-K | ES | CE | EX | GC | GB |
| Verstappen | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Perez | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Russell | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Hamilton | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Leclerc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Sainz | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Piastres | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Norris | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Stroll | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Alonso | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Or with | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| gasly | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Albon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Colapinto | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Ricciardo | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| tsunoda | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Bottas | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Zhou | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Magnussen | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Hulkenberg | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
