Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, Paul Ricard, 2018

Ricciardo to start at back of grid after changing three power unit parts

2018 German Grand Prix

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Daniel Ricciardo will start this weekend’s German Grand Prix from the back of the grid as Red Bull has changed three parts on his power unit.

Ricciardo has taken his third MGU-K, energy store and control electrics, exceeding his minimum allocation of two of each parts.

All six Ferrari-powered drivers have had their second and final new MGU-Ks fitted this weekend. Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen have also joined Ricciardo in taking a new energy store in Hockenheim.

2018 F1 Engine Component Use

No.CarEngineDriverICETCMGU-HMGU-KESCE
28Toro RossoHondaBrendon Hartley655533
10Toro RossoHondaPierre Gasly444322
14McLarenRenaultFernando Alonso333322
3Red BullTAG HeuerDaniel Ricciardo333332
27RenaultRenaultNico Hulkenberg333222
77MercedesMercedesValtteri Bottas333222
55RenaultRenaultCarlos Sainz Jnr233222
33Red BullTAG HeuerMax Verstappen232322
8HaasFerrariRomain Grosjean233222
7FerrariFerrariKimi Raikkonen232222
2McLarenRenaultStoffel Vandoorne222222
20HaasFerrariKevin Magnussen222222
9SauberFerrariMarcus Ericsson222222
31SauberFerrariCharles Leclerc222222
5FerrariFerrariSebastian Vettel222223
11Force IndiaMercedesSergio Perez222121
44MercedesMercedesLewis Hamilton222111
31Force IndiaMercedesEsteban Ocon222111
18WilliamsMercedesLance Stroll222111
35WilliamsMercedesSergey Sitorkin222111

ICE: Internal Combustion Engine
TC: Turbocharger
MGU-K: Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic
MGU-H: Moto Generator Unit: Heat
ES: Energy Store
CE: Control Electronics

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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8 comments on “Ricciardo to start at back of grid after changing three power unit parts”

  1. I’m wondering if Honda will run through 10 ICEs, 10 Turbo Chargers, 10 MGU-Hs and 10 MGU-ks on Hartley’s car before the season ends.

    Honda is still a joke. God help Red Bull.

    1. Honda is incentived to try everything they can to get more performance this year, they have nothing to lose with toro rosso, it’s done in order to get a more competitive engine with red bull.

      1. @esploratore: Good point. It makes sense to use Toro Rosso as a test base to improve performance. But I wonder if doing so might prevent Honda from making progress in terms of reliability.

  2. Ok so now we see the effects of this silly rule. But this IS a racing development series. I think the only reason for this rule is to mix up the grid, so that some fast guys are towards the back in every race towards the end of the season. It is more palatable than a reverse grid, but really goes against the DNA of formula 1, that being a technology development series.

    So I think Honda is going to have to be taking the grid penalties in order to develop.

    1. I don’t imagine you have considered not talking about topics you know nothing about…

  3. Yes, there may be “Madness”, but there may also be “Method” to it.

    Sporting Regulations: Article 35
    c) Once the grid has been established in accordance with a) and b) above, grid position
    penalties will be applied to the drivers in question in the order the offences were
    committed. If, following qualifying, more than one driver incurs a penalty under Article
    23.3(e) or Article 23.5(a) preference will be given to the driver whose team first
    informed the technical delegate that a power unit or gearbox change will be carried out.
    Article 23 deals with “Spare Cars, Engines and Gearboxes”.

    If STR informs the FIA of the impending component change ahead of any other team doing the same, he will, effectively, move up the grid. Seems to imply a race to the back, to get ahead.?
    As we are seeing power unit component grid penalties occurring and we aren’t even at the summer break, this could result in Hartley starting as high as 15th if there are 5 others taking penalties. Not out of the question. Toss in a driving penalty or two and things could get interesting.
    If you were CH, would you manage the notice to the FIA in order to have a Red Bull starting ahead of an STR.? Of course you would.
    Let the games begin …..

  4. Stupid F1 rules- it didn’t save $1.

  5. I don’t understand. What I know about PU rules is that the maximum is three throughout the year, and Ric has used just three, so why is he getting a penalty? Are there any other limits?

Comments are closed.