06 May 2023 , 17:55
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Max Verstappen has edged closer to picking up a grid penalty after taking his third gearbox of the season.
Under current Formula 1 rules, each driver is permitted to use four different gearboxes over the course of a season. This weekend's Miami Grand Prix is just the fifth round of a 23-race season, but the Red Bull racer has now used three of his allocation already.
Other than the Dutchman, only Pierre Gasly has used more than two different gearboxes so far in 2023. If he is to require a fifth between now and the end of the year, he will incur a grid penalty.
Verstappen took his second gearbox of the year in Saudi Arabia in March, after just one race. In both Bahrain and Jeddah, he complained over the radio several times about slow downshifts, hinting at a problem with those parts.
It is not known whether the gearboxes used so far by the double champion are still usable. Teams are permitted to refit older parts to cars as they see fit, provided they are safe to use and within the regulations in terms of their specifications.
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Verstappen is not alone in having had a new gearbox fitted to his car ahead of Miami qualifying. Carlos Sainz is the other driver whose car has been fitted with a different part, though it is only his second of the season so far so is currently in less danger of incurring a penalty.
Charles Leclerc has already been slapped with one grid penalty this season (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Several drivers have also had new power unit elements fitted ahead of qualifying. Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Alex Albon have all had a change of energy store and control electronics, though none have triggered a penalty as they are all within their respective season allowances.
Charles Leclerc remains the only driver so far this season to incur such a punishment. An engine failure in the first race of the year destroyed the control electronics and energy store which had already been changed from practice, meaning he required a third of each.
That meant the Ferrari star dropped 10 places on the grid for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He could only recover to seventh place in the race and, to make matters worse, more penalties are looming for the Monegasque as it is unlikely he will make his current components last until the end of the season.