How they manage their engine allowances – 2009 engine stats after 8 races
Posted on June 30, 2009 by F1Wolf
The "leader" - Robert Kubica with 6 engines in first 8 races
One of the new cost cutting rules introduced for 2009 season is limiting each driver to 8 engines per season only:
28.4 a) Each driver may use no more than eight engines during a Championship season. Should a driver use more than eight engines he will drop ten places on the starting grid at the first Event during which each additional engine is used.
With almost half a season over and first summer break upon us this is perhaps a good opportunity to look at how the drivers have been managing their engine allocations so far:
6 engines
Robert Kubica
5 engines
Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet, Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima
4 engines
Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen, Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil, Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello
3 engines
Sebastien Bourdais, Sebastien Buemi
Let’s also check out the engine manufacturers:
6 engines
1 x BMW
5 engines
4 x Renault, 4 x Toyota
4 engines
6 x Mercedes, 2 x Ferrari, 1 x BMW
3 engines
2 x Ferrari
It does not look too good for Robert Kubica. At this rate it won’t take long for him to start picking up grid penalties for additional engines. At the other end of the table are two Toro Rosso drivers with 3 engines only (thanks to several retirements and less engine mileage probably). Another interesting thing to see is that all four Renault powered cars used 4th engine for the first time in Turkey but chose to run fresh engines for the following race at Silverstone.
I am doing my best to keep the engine stats up to date after each race using the data from the scrutineering reports issued by FIA. If you spot any mistakes in the above please let me know (but blame FIA 
). To see the race-by-race table along with other 2009 statistics please check out the 2009 Season page – click here.
Photo: F1Wolf
Discussion: 14 Comments
14 Responses to “How they manage their engine allowances – 2009 engine stats after 8 races”
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Newsfilter » Formula 1: Η χρήση των κινητήρων - 8th Jul, 09 06:07pm
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Lucy
- 30th Jun, 09 08:06pm
All these rules are cramping the f1 style. this engine allowance is rubbish. i hope all manage to get through the season.
Kotenok
- 30th Jun, 09 11:06pm
Very useful! It’s also easier to look who is lacking power vs. reliability, seems that Renault paired their performance with Toyota’s engine. When the last year they claimed to be a big step backwards after engine devolopment freezing. In the other hand, I believe the troubles in Ferrari and McLaren powered with Mercedes engines aren’t specifically the delivery of horsepower. BMW is a project gone wrong, not a surprise that their engine statistics are unballanced for example.
Basing that on the motor usage is not a big deal, but ithis indicates something, that the most of the contenders are having the reliability which was seeked for this season. Despite of doing the engine economy in their way, I think the teams succeded to addapt to this rule and still keep being not turtle-slow.
.-= Kotenok´s last blog ..F1Wolf updated their profile =-.
F1Wolf
(author comment)
- 1st Jul, 09 11:07am
so, how many drivers will end up with grid penalties at the end of the season ?
Timmie
- 1st Jul, 09 08:07am
Kubica blew an engine in Silverstone and then had a fault on the second one, so they put in a third engine. but the second one is fine and will be used again obviously.
Again remembering that just cause they pulled out an engine, doesn’t mean they won’t put it back in the car again before the season is over!
Torro Rosso have apparently being pushing the limits of the engines on request from Ferrari as well, seeing how far they will go before they lose power and start to fade. Just some extra info there for ya!
F1Wolf
(author comment)
- 1st Jul, 09 11:07am
that is true. some tracks are easier on engines than some others and this new rule offers the teams a way to avoid using the same engine on several hard on the engine circuits. Unfortunatelly the data released by FIA only tell who used new engine during the race weekend and how many engines that driver used previously. It does not say when each engine was used.
F1Wolf
(author comment)
- 1st Jul, 09 11:07am
there have been rumours about this, who knows, everything is possible. on the other hand, when the team mates take each other out in the first corner of the race they do save enough mileage to perhaps safely run the same engine in one extra race
Timmie
- 6th Jul, 09 08:07am
lol, true. Does help the engine last a lot longer doesnt it?
zblkhwk
- 1st Jul, 09 10:07am
good info Timmie! Still, Kubica is obviously very tough on the equipment, having used two additional engines than his teammate. Of course, this could also show why Heidfeld has been around so long, as he makes his equipment last, getting the most out of it.
I also find it interesting that both Red Bull’s have used five engines, which tells me that they will have to start tuning down or face the 10 grid penalty at some point. That puts them in a tough fight with Braun who seem to be doing everything right.
F1Wolf
(author comment)
- 1st Jul, 09 11:07am
well, red bulls used their 5th engine at Silverstone, but they only used their 4th once, in Turkey. Looks like tactical move, they will very likely put that 4th engine back into the car for one more race at least. So there may not be that much difference between Brawn and Red Bull when it comes to engine mileage.
http://www.f1wolf.com/2009-season
Timmie
- 6th Jul, 09 08:07am
I wouldn’t be too worries about engines for the top teams like Red Bull and Brawn, they will surely have a pretty good plan laid out for how to manage their eight engines for the race weekends that are left to come.
I’m unsure but i heard that both Red Bull cars have had an engine switched out for another for a precautionary check but it turned out to be a sensor fault, so they might still have another in hand with low km’s on it. Can’t confirm this, just read about it a month ago on one of the many sites i trawl through, lol.
Wesley
- 2nd Jul, 09 05:07am
” Still, Kubica is obviously very tough on the equipment, having used two additional engines than his teammate. Of course, this could also show why Heidfeld has been around so long, as he makes his equipment last, getting the most out of it.”
Absolutely zblkhwk! Heidfeld has a very smooth driving style, not unlike Jenson Button.People say Heidfeld will never make it to the top because he lacks that “killer” instinct.But I never thought Button had this quality either and look where he is now.I would love to see those two go up against one another in the same cars.