Ricciardo, Hartley, Gasly all set for Brazil grid penalties

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Toro Rosso team mates Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly will all receive grid penalties for Sunday’s race in Brazil thanks to the replacement of parts on their cars’ Renault power units.

Prior to FP1 at Interlagos all three took on their eighth MGU-H of the year, meaning each will drop 10 grid places relative to his qualifying position, since drivers are permitted to use no more than four of any power unit element per season without penalty.

In addition, following problems in opening practice which limited him to five laps of running, Gasly’s car was given its ninth MGU-H as well as its seventh turbocharger, raising the Frenchman's total expected grid penalty to 25 places.

Hartley could well pick up further penalties too, after his car came to a smoky halt less than 20 minutes and just two laps into FP1 in Sao Paolo.

It follows a miserable race last time out in Mexico for the Renault-powered runners, where only two of the six finished the Grand Prix.