Alpine to use new exhaust systems in both cars again
The Alpine duo of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon will complete today’s Spanish Grand Prix with a fresh exhaust system with the Spaniard already using his fourth exhaust system in his home race.
For the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship, exhaust systems have been added to the list of limited-use components, with each driver allowed no more than eight per season.
Should a driver exceed that limit, grid penalties will apply, just as with engines (ICE) (three per season), motor generator units-heat (MGU-H) (three), turbochargers (TC) (three), energy stores (ES) (two), control electronics (CE) (two), and motor generator units-kinetic (MGU-K) (three).
Four drivers will race at Barcelona today with a fresh exhaust system, including the Haas duo of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher and Alpine’s racers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
The worrying fact is that the Spaniard has already used three exhaust systems at the opening three races of the season while his team mate will race with his third EX at Barcelona, indicating that Alpine continues to struggle with the reliability of its power unit.
No driver will use a fresh gearbox at the Spanish Grand Prix.
