Daniel Ricciardo hopes to get through the Canadian Grand Prix without requiring an engine change and triggering a grid penalty.
Ricciardo and Red Bull team-mate Daniil Kvyat have both used four internal combustion engines, with a 10-place grid penalty awaiting either once they move onto a fifth component. The Monaco Grand Prix did not place a particular strain on engines but Ricciardo is confident his unchanged Renault power unit can survive the demands of Montreal's power circuit.
"The plan is I race the same engine as Monaco," Ricciardo said. "I can't speak for Danny [Kvyat] to be honest but for me, as far as I know, we're trying to get through this race without any penalties. We're going to try and do our normal programme. For this race on the calculations the engine should survive, I don't think we're over-pushing it if we do a full weekend with it so we're going to keep going now."
"Obviously when we do eventually have to put in the engine and put in the penalty we want to make sure the engine is as updated as possible so when we do take a penalty we have a better spec as well."
After the team's best result of the season in Monaco, where he finished fifth behind Kvyat, Ricciardo expects a return to normality in Canada.
When asked if a podium was an optimistic thought, he replied: "It's optimistic if everything runs as it should. Mercedes and Ferrari are still too far in front - I heard they had some engine updates this weekend which scares me a little bit. In the perfect world I think they'll be too far in front.
"We had a few little bits and pieces there but nothing which was a game-changer, so I think [Monaco] was more track-specific. We've got some more bits and bobs here this weekend. This track isn't going to suit us as much with the straights and that, hopefully we can hang in there. Williams will be quick again here so hopefully try and battle them properly now but yeah, Monaco was track-specific."
The Australian is returning to the scene of his maiden F1 triumph last year, where he benefitted from Mercedes misfortune up front to seal the victory. Recalling his victory and the aftermath, Ricciardo joked: "I explored the mini bar a little bit! It's cool, very cool to be back here. It brings back memories I'll never forget."