F1 Power unit penalties will bite soon

[John S]

Kvyat using 5th MGU-K already, plus grid drop penalty can roll over too!     

Good table of who has used what, in this piece from F1 Fanatic, Merc powered cars in better shape than Renault users - well that's hardly a surprise to us now is it. 

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/07/16/engine-penalties-shape-second-half-season/

[Jericoke]

The rules seem so arbitrary.

Less power units so that manufacturing cost are at a minimum.  Seems fair.

Power unit development freeze so that R&D costs are at a minimum.  Not a fan, but again, seems fair.

Only allowed to use 5 power units that are basically untested.  Replacement units must be of the same defective design that caused the first four to fail prematurely.   

Oh, it's not a joke?  The goal is to humiliate one of the major technical suppliers? 

After the lambasting Pirelli took last year for providing tires as requested, and Renault is taking this year for making an early mistake that they're not allowed to fix... it's a wonder anyone would attach their name to F1 going forward.

[Scott]

Replacement units must be of the same defective design that caused the first four to fail prematurely.   

    No kidding...

[lkjohnson1950]

Nailed it Jeri!! Stupid rules should be relaxed for the new units for 1 season. And why not allow Ferrari and Renault a 1 time upgrade during the break? Or maybe the FIA wants Merc to run away with it?

[Irisado]

They should just get rid of the penalties altogether.  They make the show less interesting, and don't help enough with controlling costs.

[Jericoke]

They should just get rid of the penalties altogether.  They make the show less interesting, and don't help enough with controlling costs.

Ferrari used to use three engines per car per weekend.  SOME limits must be made in the interests of not coming across as blatantly wasteful.

[Scott]

I disagree.  In a year when they have made very complicated changes to the engine formula, they should relax the rules on engine changes and the penalties that go with it...not tighten them as they have.

[Jericoke]

I disagree.  In a year when they have made very complicated changes to the engine formula, they should relax the rules on engine changes and the penalties that go with it...not tighten them as they have.

I don't think it would behoove the sport for Ferrari to run fresh engines for qualifying and raceday while Caterham and Marussia are using the same power unit for three races to save a few $$$.

I agree that the 5 units is unfair, especially given the development freeze (the previous V8 design had been developed in the wide open days, and gradually clamped down).  I just think going back to the days of 30 engines per season isn't what we want either.

[Irisado]

Ferrari used to use three engines per car per weekend.  SOME limits must be made in the interests of not coming across as blatantly wasteful.

Yes, but that was when teams had T-cars.

There are plenty of ways to restrict engine use without actually penalising teams in the way the current rules do.  Why not, for example, say that you can only change your engine in practice/qualifying if it actually fails?  That stops teams just going through engines for no good reason other than because they can.

If there has to be a limit on engines, then I'd be okay with that, as much as I'm not a massive fan, if it were sensible.  The current number is way too low.

[Scott]

1 engine every two races...you can't afford it?  Too bad.