GRIDBRIEFWithin the allowance
A new part that is still inside the season allowance costs nothing. Teams plan their fitting around this.
Penalties
THE RULES / EXPLAINED
Why 10 places, or 5?
Each driver is allowed a set number of each power unit part for the whole season: for example four engines. Taking a new one beyond that number means a grid penalty at the race where it is first used. How big the penalty is depends on whether it is the first time they have gone over.
The first time over
The first time a driver goes over the allowance for any part in the season, the penalty is 10 grid places.
Every time after
Each further part beyond an allowance costs 5 places, including several at the same race.
For example: a driver who has never been over fits a new engine, turbo and battery that are all beyond their allowance. That is 10 + 5 + 5 = 20 places. A driver who was already over earlier in the season takes the same three parts and gets 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 places.
GridBrief works the total out from the FIA’s list of new parts and each driver’s usage so far. The stewards confirm the official penalty, which is why the figures above are marked as to be confirmed. The full season counts are on the power unit usage page.