Grid penalties coming Ricciardo's way in Brazil

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Daniel Ricciardo isn't expecting to get a free pass after his engine failure in Mexico two weeks, with the Red Bull driver bracing for a grid penalty on Sunday.

Ricciardo's power unit in Mexico suffered an MGU-H failure, and while it was initially hoped the element could be replaced with a similar component in Red Bull's pool of used parts, the installation of a new and eighth element is probable.

The replacement would trigger a 10-place drop for the Honey Badger.

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"[A penalty is] likely at this stage," Ricciardo said on Thursday at Interlagos.

"We could maybe avoid it but it's probably going to put us at a risk again of maybe not finishing. We tried to avoid it last week but it still didn't happen.

"It's likely. We probably won't have a big one, but if it is it could be like a 10 place. If that's the case the plan is to start the race in 11th [by topping qualifying]!

"We are going to discuss it but if they say 'you've got 10 per cent chance of finishing the race with this thing' I'll want to change it.

"If they are kind of like 50-50 I'd take the risk, but I have the feeling it's less than a 50 per cent chance."

After Max Verstappen's bad reliability spell over the summer, mechanical failures have hit Ricciardo in the last two races.

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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.