Engine rotation plans reveal Ferrari and Honda’s strategic approach

Time for a balance sheet after the first 5 Grands Prix, also with regard to power unit rotation. The recent triple-header saw some teams already install their second engine of the season—not so much due to reliability issues but rather to optimize component rotation throughout the year. Here, some differences emerge among the top teams, with Ferrari and Red Bull showing an opposite approach to that of Mercedes and McLaren.

The reasons behind the rotationIn Saudi Arabia, Ferrari, Red Bull, Racing Bulls and Alpine all fitted their second power unit of the year, including the internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K. The replacement might seem premature, considering that in order not to exceed the limit of four units per season, each engine should cover at least six Grands Prix. However, this is a pre-planned rotation, aimed at using fresh power units on engine-demanding circuits such as Jeddah, where the throttle is fully open for over 70% of the lap. The power units from the beginning of the year will instead be reused in the free practice sessions of upcoming races and/or in the Monaco round, which is among the least demanding for power units.

The same strategy has been implemented in previous years, but the 2025 planning is even more refined. The power units are almost unchanged from past seasons, allowing engine manufacturers to rely on strong knowledge of their lifespan and on particularly accurate models. “In management, we can pay closer attention to squeezing out every last drop of performance,” explained Enrico Gualtieri, head of Ferrari’s PU division, in February. “We will select which power units and even which specific parts to use based on their previous lifespan, on the virtual models of the components we’ve built, and on their actual usage, in order to always choose the most suitable units for each weekend.”

Mercedes goes against the grainA different approach is seen from teams using the Brixworth-built power unit, including Mercedes and McLaren, who have yet to use their second unit. The exception is George Russell, who was the only one at Suzuka to install a new battery and control electronics, possibly due to a genuine reliability issue. Honda-powered teams, namely Red Bull and Racing Bulls, changed their control electronics and energy store at the Bahrain round, presumably to prevent any technical issues on a hot and bumpy track—conditions that are critical for electronic components.

Below is a summary of all components used since the start of the season, excluding gearbox counts, since this year the regulations no longer impose a limit on the number of gearboxes.

Driver TableICE: Internal Combustion Engine (maximum 4 per season)TC: Turbocharger (maximum 4 per season)MGU-H: Motor Generator Unit – Heat (maximum 4 per season)MGU-K: Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (maximum 4 per season)ES: Energy Store (battery, maximum 2 per season)CE: Control Electronics (maximum 2 per season)EX: Exhaust (maximum 8 per season)

Manufacturer TableICE: Internal Combustion EngineTC: TurbochargerMGU-H: Motor Generator Unit – HeatMGU-K: Motor Generator Unit – KineticES: Energy StoreCE: Control ElectronicsEX: Exhaust

Apr 29, 2025Sofia Bianchi

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