Verstappen, Tsunoda, Hadjar, and Lawson Undergo Engine Component Changes Ahead of Bahrain GP……. read more
Ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the FIA has confirmed that several drivers, including reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, will be competing with updated power unit components. Alongside Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda of RB, and the Racing Bulls duo of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson have all received new engine elements ahead of the weekend.
According to the FIA’s technical delegate’s report from the Bahrain paddock, all four drivers have been fitted with a new Energy Store (ES) in their respective power units. This component is critical in the hybrid systems of modern F1 cars, helping to harvest and deploy electrical energy during a race. Each driver is permitted only two Energy Store changes over the course of the season without incurring a grid penalty, and this weekend’s change marks the first for all four.
In addition to the new Energy Store, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Hadjar, and Lawson have also been equipped with fresh Control Electronics (CE). These electronic systems manage key elements of the power unit, and, like the Energy Store, are limited to two changes per driver throughout the season. The Bahrain GP marks the first CE change for each of the four drivers.
These component swaps do not trigger any immediate penalties, as they fall within the allowable number of changes for the season. However, if any of the drivers exceed the limit of two changes for either the Energy Store or the Control Electronics later in the year, they risk receiving grid penalties in future races.
The changes reflect the early season precautionary strategies often employed by teams to ensure reliability at the start of the year. With only a limited number of component changes permitted under current F1 regulations, strategic planning around power unit elements is crucial to maintaining competitiveness without risking penalties.
For Verstappen, the update is unlikely to impact his performance significantly. The Dutch driver is aiming for a strong start to his title defense, having dominated the 2023 season. Red Bull’s reliability and efficiency in managing power unit components will once again be key as they look to maintain their edge over the field.
As for Tsunoda, Hadjar, and Lawson, the Racing Bulls’ decision to make changes early in the season could point to a focus on long-term reliability or testing the performance of newly upgraded components under race conditions.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will officially get underway with practice sessions leading into Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race, where all eyes will be on how these update
d cars perform.
