Gasly Might Need A MGU-H Change Already...

Pierre Gasly's Toro Rosso might already need a new MGU-H, the team have revealed, after the Frenchman was forced to retire from Sunday's Australian Grand Prix after just fifteen laps.

This year teams are only allowed three power units, MGU-K's and MGU-H's this year. The fact that Gasly could be one down already, could have big ramifications later on in the season.

"We saw odd data appear on the telemetrics, and we could quickly see it was the MGU-H," Honda boss Toyoharu Tanabe told RACER.

During pre-season, Honda and Toro Rosso showed great endurance and reliability, which is why people are surprised that the team has already suffered an issue of this magnitude this early in the season.

Now it's the teams' task to find out whether the old unit can be salvaged, or if Gasly already needs a second MGU-H.

"We don't know yet if the MGU-H is beyond repairing," Tanabe admitted.

An MGU-H replacement wouldn't give Gasly a grid penalty yet, but of course, it's not the start of the season the Frenchman would've wanted. As for Honda, this will not do their reputation any good. To be continued.