Question about the gearbox

[KRON]

Why new gearboxes are free? I mean, you can get a penalty for fitting a new event gearbox before 6 races, but it's otherwise free? Isn't gearbox supposed to be expensive as hell?

[Maya-Neko]

Because it's an official F1 rule, that a gearbox needs to be used 6 races. After that it's free, because we're still not at the point, where a gearbox could last a full season.

And yes, everything is expensive in a F1 car. Back in the days they used 2 engines per race weekend (one even specialized on qualifying, which broke after like 6 laps). But the days of unlimited money are a thing of the past. That's why there are rules to prevent team from just using new engines and gearboxes every single race, so that it's cheaper overall and to encourage teams to build engines, which are more durable.

[Cheetxy]

It's not free. Free just means, that you can get/buy a new gearbox without a penalty.

[KRON]

Originally posted by Mehmet Autoteile:

It's not free. Free just means, that you can get/buy a new gearbox without a penalty.

When I fit a new gearbox I don't see any change in my bank account. That's what I'm curious about.

[AoD_lexandro]

Originally posted by KRON:

Originally posted by Mehmet Autoteile:

It's not free. Free just means, that you can get/buy a new gearbox without a penalty.

When I fit a new gearbox I don't see any change in my bank account. That's what I'm curious about.

The gearbox is part of the engine supplier contract.