Strategic grid penalty in store for Ricciardo

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Like Max Verstappen, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo will likely take a strategic grid penalty at Monza in order to head to a gain a benefit in two weeks in Singapore.

Monza's power-hungry layout will only underline Red Bull's relative weakness in the engine department, softening the impact of a low grid start while boosting its chances at the better-suited Marina Bay venue.

"It's no secret Singapore is a circuit we're strong on," said Ricciardo.

"I don't want to take any risks in Singapore and risk racing with an old engine or something.

"If we have to be strategic about it, then we will. We're not in a comfortable position now to be taking any risks with the reliability, so we'll play it safe."

Will Red Bull get a reduced Renault engine bill in exchange for Sainz?

Red Bull has clearly pointed the finger at engine partner Renault for its lack of reliability, a weakness which has hardly hit Ricciardo's team mate Max Verstappen.

The manufacturer's progress in performance this season appears to have come at the expense of its reliability, according to the Aussie.

"I think the progress has been hindered by reliability," he said. "If we had better reliability we could then start to turn it up more and more.

"That's slowed us down more than we would have liked. Obviously on top of the disappointment of the DNF is that it then kind of slows everything down for updates and development.

"Hopefully we have less of these issues coming up, but we're getting later in the season now and still having it. We thought we would have cleared this earlier."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.