A power unit is the complete hybrid propulsion system used in Formula 1. It consists of a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine, a Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H), a Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K), an energy store (battery), a turbocharger, and a control electronics unit. Together, these components produce around 1,000 horsepower. Each driver is permitted a limited number of power unit components per season; exceeding these allocations results in grid penalties. The regulations change significantly for 2026.
Example: He’s taken a new power unit ahead of this race, which means a ten-place grid penalty tomorrow.
The power unit is not simply an engine — it is an integrated hybrid system of multiple components, of which the internal combustion engine is just one part.
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