Ferrari-powered cars introduce new PU parts in Miami
With the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship reaching its fifth round, the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, teams started to introduce fresh power units elements with mainly the Ferrari-powered cars opting for new parts. F1Technical's Balázs Szabó assesses the changes for the hotly anticipated event around Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
Since the introduction of the hybrid power units back in 2014, the amount of used F1 power unit elements that are allowed to each car during the season has been limited. The sporting regulations have been tweaked over the last years regarding the amount of parts drivers are permitted to use during a season.
Since last year, the power units consists of seven parts: internal combustion engine, turbocharger, motor generator unit – heat, motor generator unit – kinetic, energy store, control electronics with the exhaust system having been added to this list last year.
During the current season drivers are allowed to use 3 ICE, 3 TC, 3 MGU-H, 3 MGU-K, 2 ES, 2 CE and 8 EX without penalty. When the use exceeds these amounts of power unit elements the driver of that car will receive grid penalties in the following race.
For the Miami Grand Prix, six drivers have opted to use a fresh internal combustion engine including Charles Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, Mick Schumacher and Pierre Gasly. For the Frenchman, it is already the third ICE which puts him into a difficult position for the rest of the year with only three engines allowed during the 23-race season.
The same group of six drivers started the event with a fresh turbocharger, motor generator – heat and motor generator unit – kinetic with only Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu deciding against the installation of a fresh MGU – K.
Two Mercedes-powered cars will complete the inaugural Miami Grand Prix with a new energy store with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams Nicholas Latifi opting to do so. For both drivers from Canada, it will be the second and last energy store allowed for the current championship season.
After missing the first two grands prix due to Covid-19 illness, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel will line up on the grid on Sunday with a fresh control electronics.
Four drivers – Leclerc, Gasly, Bottas and Schumacher – decided to install a fresh exhaust system for Miami.
