After the high of his third Formula 1 pole, Daniel Ricciardo received the ultimate punch to the gut with yet another retirement at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The Australian lost out on a chance for victory after a poor start saw teammate Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton jump ahead at Turn 1, but second was a real possibility as he held off Sebastian Vettel on used tyres before coming to a stop with a suspected hydraulics problem.
An eighth DNF of the year, six of which have been mechanical, has left the ‘Honey Badger’ feeling completely dejected.
“I don’t even think frustration’s a word anymore, everything just feels hopeless,” he said back in the paddock.
“I honestly don’t know where I am, I honestly don’t see the point of coming on Sunday, I don’t see the point in doing the next two races. I haven’t had a clean race weekend, in so long.
“I’m not superstitious or any of this bullshit but the car’s cursed… it won’t… I don’t know. No words.”
Ricciardo hasn’t had a podium since his last victory in Monaco back in May and now has just Brazil and Abu Dhabi before his much-talked about move to Renault for 2019.
In his comments congratulating Verstappen for his fifth F1 win, team boss Christian Horner admitted there was great disappointment at the 29-year-old’s plight.
“It’s an incredible achievement for Max to win,” he stated. “It was a continuation from Austin. He was incredible but the thing that feels bittersweet is that we should have had them [Verstappen and Ricciardo] both up there.
“We need to get Daniel’s car back, but it looks like hydraulics again. It’s just gutting for him he drove a great race and held off Sebastian and overtook Hamilton.
“Today car and engine worked in harmony for Max and that’s what it should do to achieve this kind of result.
“Congratulations today to where it’s deserved, but we’d love to have seen both Daniel and Max up there.”