Verstappen set to start with fresh engine as Honda equips its four cars with new PU components in Jeddah

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen will race with a fresh power unit at today's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after Honda has elected to equip its four cars with new PU components.

For the 12th year running, the 2025 F1 cars are powered by V6 hybrid turbo power units with 1.6-litre engines. This season represents the last year the current engine configuration appears before being replaced by a new power unit formula in 2026.

Current F1 power units feature seven elements: the internal combustion engine (ICE), motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), turbocharger, energy store (ES), control electronics (CE) and exhaust.

Over the course of the 2024 season, a driver may use no more than four ICEs, MGU-Hs, MGU-Ks and turbochargers, two energy stores and control electronics, and eight of each of the four elements that make up a set of exhaust systems (comprising primaries left-hand side, primaries right-hand side, secondary LHS and secondary RHS).

Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar Red Bull Racing drivers Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda have already used two energy stores, control electronics and exhaust systems while Mercedes' George Russell has also used two ES and CE components which means that they will need to complete the season without any fresh units if they are to avoid any sporting penalties.

Haas driver Oliver Bearman has already added the second fresh internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K and exhaust system to his pool while Racing Bulls Liam Lawson has already started to use the second fresh unit of all seven components that make up the power unit.

Despite his improved form in recent races, Alpine's Jack Doohan finds himself in a difficult position in terms of power unit allocation as he has already started to use his second internal combustion engine, MGU-K, MGU-H, turbocharger while he has already added three exhaust systems to his pool.

Honda has equipped its four cars - the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda and the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson - with a fresh internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-K, MGU-H and exhaust system. For the Kiwi, it is already his third ICE which means that he will only have one more fresh unit to use for the remainder of the 24-race season.

Pierre Gasly will also race with a new ICE, turbocharger, exhaust system, MGU-H and MGU-K while his Australian team-mate Jack Doohan has received with a fresh MGU-H and TC.

Ferrari's power unit has been so far quite reliable throughout the opening races of the season, but Esteban Ocon was take a fresh exhaust system for today's race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.