F1 briefing: Daniel Ricciardo set for grid penalties at the Canadian GP

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo looks set to incur multiple grid penalties at this weekend’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

The Australian won the Monaco GP on 27 May but had to drive for a lot of the race without the use of MGU-K – the power unit component which “recovers energy under braking and redeploys it to the power train”, F1.com reports.

Because the part will need replacing “out of schedule”, under F1 rules Ricciardo will have to incur an automatic grid drop.

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According to Sky Sports, because Ricciardo has already used “a significant chunk of his allowance for engine parts” the penalties in Canada will depend on “just how many components will require changing”.

Red Bull’s Adrian Newey has confirmed to Sky Sports that Ricciardo will be taking penalties in Canada. Newey told Reuters: “He will definitely be taking some penalties in Montreal, we haven’t heard at the moment just how many. One of the things is whether the battery was damaged or not in Monaco, so until we know that from Renault we don’t know exactly what we’re facing.

“The [MGU-K] is definitely a penalty. I rather doubt it [can be reused], considering it caught fire and was a burnt out, charred wreck. I would be somewhat surprised at that one.”

Ricciardo is currently third in the F1 drivers’ standings on 72 points. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes leads on 110 points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on 96.

Will Vietnam host a street race?

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is a possible contender to host a new Formula 1 street race, Autoweek reports.

Speaking at the FIA’s Sport Conference in the Philippines, F1 CEO Chase Carey said: “Vietnam is a very exciting country. A country that’s caught the world’s imagination and, in many ways, that’s where we want to be.

“I think we’re excited about the opportunity to grow in Asia – we’re excited about the opportunities that we’re discussing in Vietnam, certainly.”

Toyota deny Raikkonen rally rumours

There are rumours that Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen could make a return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) with Toyota next year, but the team have denied that talks are taking place.

The Finnish driver, whose Ferrari contract expires at the end of the season, previously competed in the WRC from 2009 to 2011. He has admitted that he would be interested in a return to rallying in some capacity.

Despite the rumours, Toyota’s sporting director Kaj Lindstrom told Motorsport Week: “This is the first I’ve heard of it. Clearly if anything like this was going to happen I would have been the first to hear about it. For me, this is pure speculation.”