Monza, Sep 4 (IANS): Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo will be penalised 25 places at the Italian Grand Prix for making engine changes at the practice session on Friday.
Team principal Christian Horner says Red Bull are throwing "everything" at their Renault-powered RB11s cars for a podium finish at the race
Red Bull's other driver Daniil Kvyat's car will also endure an engine change and will accept a ten-place grid drop, while team-mate Ricciardo is demoted 25 rungs thanks to other power unit elements also being replaced.
"We know we’ll struggle here at a power circuit so it makes sense to take all of that by taking sixth engines this weekend so that we are ready to make the best of things next time out,” team principal Christian Horner, was quoted as saying by formula1.com.
"We've used up the mileage on the units we currently have, and we need to do this to get through to the end of the year. This is the best place to do it.”
Ricciardo echoed his boss' comments, adding: “Monza’s not obviously a circuit that suits us particularly. We've got the penalties as well, so you know that’s obviously a strategic thing as well - take the penalty here rather than in Singapore where we expect to be very competitive."
"Then, yeah, have some fun here on Sunday, come through the field as far forward as we can and then Singapore, we can really fight for a podium there.”
Team McLaren will also incur penalties as drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso will accept ten-place grid drops for engine change. At team Toro Rosso, driver Carlos Sainz will lose ten grid places thanks to a fresh engine.
“I’m positive even if I’ll have to take a ten-place grid penalty,” said Carlos.