I Just Reached a Real Low After Austin – Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed the moment when he put his fist through the wall after another retirement in Austin, Texas was not a once off in 2018.

The West Australian, who suffered eight DNFs last season, admitting to putting holes in walls and doors on two other occasions in what was one of the most difficult years of his career.

As well as the infamous moment at the Circuit of the Americas in October, revealed by team principal Christian Horner after the race, Ricciardo also put his elbows through his door in Melbourne and his knee through the door in Bahrain as he suffered a frustrating start to the season.

Ricciardo finished fourth in the Australian Grand Prix but was started from eighth on the grid after receiving a three-place penalty for failing to adequately slow down for a red flag during free practice.

Then, in the following race in Bahrain and geared up to make amends, his car suffered electrical failure as both Red Bull were forced to retire.

“It all started in Melbourne, before the season even started,” Ricciardo said in an interview with Max Verstappen in Red Bull’s On The Sofa.

“In practice I got the penalty for not slowing enough for that red flag so that started with putting my elbows through the door of my room.

“A week later I tried to channel that energy into Bahrain and my race finished after one lap… so I put my knee through the door in that one and it kind of spiralled.

“And there was the fist (through the wall) in Austin, and Austin was the worst one. Austin, I don’t know why, I just reached a real low.”

Hopefully for the Australian driver, his fortunes will be better with Renault.