The latest 2014 FIA Sporting Regulations outline just how complicated the grid penalty procedure will be once drivers start facing reliability issues.

Previously it was pretty straightforward as drivers were allowed eight engines per season before use of a ninth led to a penalty. Under the new rules they are allowed not five engines, but five sets of six key elements. These can be used in any combination, but once a sixth example of any of those components is used, the penalties start to kick in.

Intriguingly grid penalties can also be carried over to the next event – for example if a driver who qualified 20th gets a five place penalty and only goes back two places he will have to serve the remaining three at the next race. However, this only carries over once.

The rules state: “For the purposes of this Article 28.4 the power unit will be deemed to comprise six separate elements, the engine (ICE), the motor generator unit – kinetic (MGU – K), the motor generator unit – heat (MGU – H), the energy store (ES), turbocharger (TC) and control electronics (CE). Each driver will therefore be permitted to use five of each of the above six components during a Championship season and any combination of them may be fitted to a car at any one time.

“Should a driver use more than five of any one of the elements a grid place penalty will be imposed upon him at the first Event during which each additional element is used.”

The penalties are outlined as follows:

Replacement of a complete power unit: The driver concerned must start the race

from the pit lane

The first time a 6th of any of the elements is used: Ten grid place penalty

The first time a 6th of any of the remaining elements is used: Five grid place penalty

The first time a 7th of any of the elements is used: Ten grid place penalty

The first time a 7th of any of the remaining elements is used, and so on: Five grid place penalty

The rules add: “A power unit or any of the six components will be deemed to have been used once the car’s timing transponder has shown that it has left the pit lane.

“If a grid place penalty is imposed, and the driver’s grid position is such that the full penalty cannot be applied, the remainder of the penalty will be applied at the driver’s next Event. However, no such remaining penalties will be carried forward for more than one Event.”

The stewards also have the power to impose grid penalties for an unsafe release, either for that event for an offence in practice, or for the next if it happens in a race. This will put a premium on teams ensuring that they send cars out with their wheels securely tightened…