Gearbox change forces grid penalty on Ocon

Regardless of where he qualifies this afternoon, Esteban Ocon will start Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix five spots down the order as the result of a gearbox change on his Force India.

After Friday's second free practice session, which Ocon concluded P10, the pink outfit decided the change the component as a precautionary measure.

As the gearbox had not yet reached its six-race limit, the swap entails a five-place grid penalty.

Ocon not interested in racing outside of F1 despite offers

It's definitely a set-back for the French driver who enjoyed a productive couple of sessions on Friday.

"Both sessions were straightforward for me – no issues on my side of the garage and we did a lot of laps," said Ocon before learning of his demotion.

"It’s not an easy circuit to get everything right and there is still some work to do before qualifying.

"It’s those small details we need to work on to make me feel more comfortable. The target is definitely to reach Q3 tomorrow. In terms of the weather, I don’t mind if it’s wet or dry."

In addition to Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo will also start his race five spots down from where he qualifies, his Red Bull crew mounting a sixth turbo on his Renault-powered RB14.

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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.