Ricciardo, Kvyat, Sainz go for double engine changes

After the Austrian GP, the FIA decreed that no engine penalties get carried into the race, and thus the maximum penalty could be a back of the grid start.

McLaren took advantage of that in Belgium by doing two changes with both drivers, a move that helped to ensure a good supply of 'healthy' components for the last part of the season.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso have both decided to do the same at Monza, while Max Verstappen will make a single change for Saturday, and will thus also have penalties.

The strategy is also a response to Renault telling the teams that its full update package will probably not be available in Russia, as had been promised, and will now most likely be in Austin.

Both teams now have extra elements with which to tackle the Singapore, Japan and Russian GP weekends.

In theory, they also have enough parts to get to the end of the season without further penalties if they do not actually use the upgraded package, even if it becomes available.

"The reasoning is that we take Monza as a place to introduce everything that they need to finish the season," Renault's Remi Taffin told Motorsport.com.

"So from Saturday onwards we should be OK to not introduce any more engines. What we decided with the teams was Monza was the place to take every penalty we need, so we put everything for four drivers to go to the end."

Despite the Spa tactics, McLaren also has grid penalties at Monza, with Jenson Button currently on five, and Fernando Alonso on 10.