- Daniel Ricciardo has suffered reliability woe regarding his Renault power unit
- Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly also hit with grid penalties
- Lewis Hamilton quickest to head Mercedes one-two in Brazil GP first practice
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Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of winning just his second grand prix of the season have taken a significant blow after being hit with a ten-place grid penalty ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Australian’s Red Bull car required a new MGU-H regarding his Renault power unit for Friday practice at Interlagos, triggering his penalty for race day.
In further woe for Renault, Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly suffered the same fate and will also collect ten-place grid penalties.
Daniel Ricciardo will be hit with a ten-place grid penalty ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix
The Red Bull driver tours the Interlagos circuit under the clouds during first practice
More penalties could still yet hit the trio regarding further tweaks to their power unit, with Hartley’s Toro Rosso the most likely after suffering a power unit failure during FP1 after just two laps.
In better news for Red Bull, Max Verstappen was trouble free during morning practice to go fourth fastest and just a shade slower than third placed Kimi Raikkonen.
Mercedes though dominated first practice with Lewis Hamilton edging out Valtteri Bottas.
Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley was hit by an engine failure on just his second lap in FP1
The Silver Arrows were nearly half-a-second a lap faster than their rivals at a track where they are unbeaten during the turbo-hybrid era.
Nico Rosberg triumphed in 2014 and 2015, whole Lewis Hamilton was victorious last term.