Drivers on the verge of penalty in Singapore

The regulations in force impose a maximum of five Power Units and its subsets for the entire season which still includes 19 Grand Prix. As the Singapore GP marks the 14th meeting of the season, several drivers already find themselves under the threat of a ten-place grid penalty if a sixth change is made. Daniil Kvyat, who used his sixth engine at Monza (Italy), now risks “only” a penalty of five positions if Toro Rosso is required to make a new change exceeding the quota. It is very likely that the Russian will be sanctioned again since it is also on its fifth MGU-K (kinetic engine generator).

But the case of Daniil Kvyat is far from isolated and the starting grids will experience many changes at the end of the season, especially as the teams particularly fear the suffocating heat of Singapore. Sebastian Vettel should soon pass there since the quadruple world champion used his five engines. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen are in the same situation, with the difference that the drivers Ferrari are also at the limit with their electronic control system (and with the MGU-H for the Finn). Romain Grosjean has exploited all the turbos, while his teammate Pastor Maldonado is at the limit in almost every sub-assembly.

The 6l turbo/hybrid V1.6s prove significantly more reliable since all teams powered by Brackley still have some reserves. The Sauber and Marussia drivers are not spared from the threat of an upcoming penalty. Only Caterham is doing well with Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson.

An update on driver-by-driver quotas before the Singapore Grand Prix can be found in the analysis of the Italian Grand Prix carried out in issue 1977 of AUTOhebdo.