Power unit usage rules

Formula 1Formula 1 is the pinnacle of open-wheel,  single-seater car racing and arguably the highest level of any motorsport globally. Also... There's more... has strict rules about everything, including how many power unitF1 cars no longer have engines as such, they run a hybrid power unit (PU) that delivers in the order... There's more... components can be used over the course of a season.

Long gone are the days of spare cars and as many parts as a team could afford. The FIAFédération Internationale de l'Automobile is the association responsible for the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users across the... There's more... is continuously reviewing and amending the regulations in order to level the playing fieldThe field is a reference to the full grid of cars, from pole to the backmarkers. Consider it in the... There's more... and ensure the wealthy team’s unlimited funds advantage is minimised. 

So over and above the cost capThe cost cap, or budget cap, is the amount of money a team can spend on the car's performance in... There's more..., there are allowances for the number of each component allowed over the course of a year:

• Internal Combustion EngineThe Internal Combustion Engine, commonly called ICE, is a six-cylinder, four-stroke, turbocharged, direct injection 1.6-litre unit and one of 6... There's more... – 3
• MGU-HThe MGU-H (Heat) uses excess exhaust gases from the engine to feed power to the energy store, which is then... There's more... – 3
• Turbocharger – 3
• MGU-KThe MGU-K (Kinetic) harvests energy from the decelerating wheels back to the energy store for later use. The power created... There's more... – 3
• Energy Store – 2
• Control ElectronicsThe Control Electronics, or ECU (Electronic Control Unit), is a high-tech unit that controls the electrical systems on all F1... There's more... – 2

Teams can mix and match components throughout the season, but should they need to use any new component from outside this allowance, they do so with the knowledge that they will serve a gridThe grid is a reference to the starting order of the race is typically determined by qualifying, however, with the... There's more... penalty. 10 places for the first primary part, and five places for each part after that.