Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says his squad is ready to take a couple of strategic grid penalties during the upcoming the Italian Grand Prix in order to arrive at Singapore with fresh Renault power units.
The French manufacturer has been struggling with reliability in 2015, with both Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat already dropping 10 places on the Spielberg grid last June for using a fifth ICE.
Since then, Red Bull has secured a strong double podium finish in Hungary – a venue that shares similar traits with Singapore –, but also recorded a pair of engine-related retirements on Ricciardo’s car, the latest occurring at Spa on Sunday.
With the ultra-fast Monza circuit coming up next on the calendar, Horner admits the four-time world champions are likely to play it safe to preserve its chances for Marina Bay.
“I'm fairly certain we'll be taking new engines with both cars,” he said. “Considering the amount of races left it is inevitable we'll be staring down the barrel of probably our next penalty.
“Strategically Monza is the most likely. We don't want to be going into Singapore with old engines or any risks as that is really our next chance to shine.”
Although Red Bull was already hampered by an under-powered Renault unit in 2014, it still managed to place its two drivers on the podium at Marina Bay, as former protégé Sebastian Vettel finished P2 ahead of Ricciardo.
Click here for Sunday's gallery of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
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