The upcoming Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix is the fourteenth race of the 2024 season and RB Visa Cash App Driver Yuki Tsunoda Have used up all allocated funds Red Bull Powertrain engine replacement for the season. Each time a specified “engine part” is replaced, it comes with a ten-point grid penalty. Team RB argued that because Tsunoda’s car needed a new engine after Hungary, they can also go bankrupt and replace everything.
Ahead of this weekend’s race at Spa Francorchamps, the team has fitted Yuki’s fifth combustion engine, fifth turbocharger, fifth MGU-H, fifth MGU-K, third energy storage unit and third electronic control unit. The six power unit components mean a 60-place penalty. Yuki could theoretically take pole position in qualifying on Saturday and still start the race from last place.
There are still ten Grands Prix left to go this year, and Yuki has already run out of free replacement tokens. If any of these components need to be replaced for the rest of the season, Yuki will incur an additional 10 penalty points. The season is only halfway through, so you can bet he’ll be rewarded with trips to the back of the grid at least a few more times this season.
It is worth noting that the leader in points and reigning world champion Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez are also opting for a fifth internal combustion engine, while Tsunoda’s RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo remains in good form with a fourth (and final) engine before being penalised.
Red Bull and RB, both of which use Red Bull’s in-house powertrains, largely based on older Honda engines, are running significantly more engines than their Mercedes- and Ferrari-powered rivals, most of whom are still in their third ICE. Combined with Red Bull’s recent loss of pace relative to their Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren rivals, this could spell disaster for Verstappen’s title defence. This lack of reliability will almost certainly cost Red Bull their title defence.
I think Ford’s powertrain development money will soon flow to Red Bull.
