Annual F1 Power Unit Homologation

On 1st March 2014 the 3 power unit manufacturers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault) have to submit their power units to the FIA for Homologation.

Once the FIA have approved the power units for use in the 2014 F1 season then those power units are fixed for the entire season and the manufacturers have to supply all of their teams with identical power units.

Therefore, if one power unit supplier has a disadvantage to its competitors then according to the regulations they are stuck with that disadvantage for the whole season.

However, in F1 things are never as simple as that. If a power unit manufacturer has a disadvantage then there is a mechanism for them to improve their power unit. They submit a request for a change to the FIA. The request is copied to all teams and power unit suppliers. They are allowed 5 days to object to the request. In reality, no team would object.