Daniel Ricciardo laments ‘cursed’ car after eighth retirement of 2018 | CNN

Daniel Ricciardo laments ‘cursed’ car after eighth retirement of 2018

By Matias Grez
2 minute read
Published 9:48 AM EDT, Mon October 29, 2018
Lewis Hamilton sprays second-placed Sebastian Vettel with champagne after winning the Abu Dhabi season-ending race, 11th of his title winning season.
Lewis Hamilton sprays second-placed Sebastian Vettel with champagne after winning the Abu Dhabi season-ending race, 11th of his title winning season.
Lars Baron/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 10th win of the season as he takes the Brazilian GP ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 10th win of the season as he takes the Brazilian GP ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen.
Lars Baron/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton savors the moment after clinching his fifth F1 world title with fourth place behind Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton savors the moment after clinching his fifth F1 world title with fourth place behind Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Dan Istitene/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Race winner Kimi Raikkonen is flanked by second-placed Max Verstappen (far left) and Lewis Hamilton, who finished third after a thrilling US Grand Prix. Hamilton increased his title lead to 70 points over Sebastian Vettel ahead of the final three rounds of the championship.
Race winner Kimi Raikkonen is flanked by second-placed Max Verstappen (far left) and Lewis Hamilton, who finished third after a thrilling US Grand Prix. Hamilton increased his title lead to 70 points over Sebastian Vettel ahead of the final three rounds of the championship.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Race winner Lewis Hamilton had plenty to celebrate after claiming victory in the Japanese GP at Suzuka to lead the world championship by 67 points with four rounds remaining.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton had plenty to celebrate after claiming victory in the Japanese GP at Suzuka to lead the world championship by 67 points with four rounds remaining.
Charles Coates/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton (no 44) overtook fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas under team orders on his way to a decisive victory in the 2018 F1 title race as he extended his advantage over Sebastian Vettel to 50 points.
Lewis Hamilton (no 44) overtook fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas under team orders on his way to a decisive victory in the 2018 F1 title race as he extended his advantage over Sebastian Vettel to 50 points.
Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton led from pole position in his famous No.44 Mercedes and took his seventh victory of the season on the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore.
Lewis Hamilton led from pole position in his famous No.44 Mercedes and took his seventh victory of the season on the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore.
Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Hamilton stormed to a record-equalling fifth Italian Grand Prix victory -- overtaking both Ferraris in the process.
Hamilton stormed to a record-equalling fifth Italian Grand Prix victory -- overtaking both Ferraris in the process.
Will Taylor-Medhurst/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring near Budapest to extend his title lead over Sebastian Vettel to 24 points.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring near Budapest to extend his title lead over Sebastian Vettel to 24 points.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton celebrates an extraordinary comeback win at the German Grand Prix to give him a 17-point championship lead as title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out
Hamilton celebrates an extraordinary comeback win at the German Grand Prix to give him a 17-point championship lead as title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Dutch driver Max Verstappen claims a dramatic victory at the home of Red Bull Racing. But how does that impact the Drivers' Championship?
Dutch driver Max Verstappen claims a dramatic victory at the home of Red Bull Racing. But how does that impact the Drivers' Championship?
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Sebastian Vettel took full advantage of a bizarre incident involving both cars of the American-owned Haas team to claim the opening race of the 2018 Formula One season in Australia.
Melbourne, Australia -- 'Lucky' Vettel wins season opener —
Sebastian Vettel took full advantage of a bizarre incident involving both cars of the American-owned Haas team to claim the opening race of the 2018 Formula One season in Australia.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Vettel -- 25 points<br />Hamilton -- 18 points<br />Raikonnen -- 15 points
Drivers' title race after round 1 —
Vettel -- 25 points
Hamilton -- 18 points
Raikonnen -- 15 points
Mark Thompson/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Vettel won for the second time in as many races at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But the Italian team's victory was overshadowed after one of its mechanics suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen's car during a pit stop.
Sakhir, Bahrain -- Ferrari win soured by injured mechanic —
Vettel won for the second time in as many races at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But the Italian team's victory was overshadowed after one of its mechanics suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen's car during a pit stop.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Vettel -- 50 points<br />Hamilton -- 33 points<br />Bottas -- 22 points
Drivers' title race after round 2 —
Vettel -- 50 points
Hamilton -- 33 points
Bottas -- 22 points
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
An inspired Daniel Ricciardo claimed a remarkable and unexpected victory from sixth on the grid after a tactical masterstroke by his Red Bull team in Shanghai, with furious championship leader Vettel back in eighth place.
Shanghai, China —
An inspired Daniel Ricciardo claimed a remarkable and unexpected victory from sixth on the grid after a tactical masterstroke by his Red Bull team in Shanghai, with furious championship leader Vettel back in eighth place.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Vettel -- 54 points<br />Hamilton -- 45 points<br />Bottas -- 40 points
Drivers' title race after round 3 —
Vettel -- 54 points
Hamilton -- 45 points
Bottas -- 40 points
Charles Coates/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton was the chief beneficiary of a late puncture suffered by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas as he clinched his first win of the season at April's action-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Baku, Azerbaijan -- Red Bull drivers shockingly crash as Hamilton triumphs —
Lewis Hamilton was the chief beneficiary of a late puncture suffered by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas as he clinched his first win of the season at April's action-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton -- 70 points<br />Vettel -- 66 points <br />Raikkonen -- 48 points<br />
Drivers' title race after round 4 —
Hamilton -- 70 points
Vettel -- 66 points
Raikkonen -- 48 points
GREG BAKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
After his unlikely victory in Azerbaijan, it was a second straight win for Hamilton as he bids for a fifth world championship -- and it could not have been more comfortable.
Barcelona, Spain -- Lewis Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two —
After his unlikely victory in Azerbaijan, it was a second straight win for Hamilton as he bids for a fifth world championship -- and it could not have been more comfortable.
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Hamilton -- 95 points<br />Vettel -- 78 points<br />Bottas -- 57 points
Drivers' title race after round 5 —
Hamilton -- 95 points
Vettel -- 78 points
Bottas -- 57 points
Charles Coates/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Ricciardo nursed his ailing Red Bull to a remarkable victory on the streets of Monte Carlo and with it made up for his 2016 heartbreak on the same circuit.
Monaco -- Redemption for Ricciardo —
Ricciardo nursed his ailing Red Bull to a remarkable victory on the streets of Monte Carlo and with it made up for his 2016 heartbreak on the same circuit.
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Hamilton -- 110 points<br />Vettel -- 96 points<br />Ricciardo -- 72 points
Drivers' title race after round 6 —
Hamilton -- 110 points
Vettel -- 96 points
Ricciardo -- 72 points
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Sebastian Vettel's 50th career victory saw him replace Lewis Hamilton at the top of the championship standings to cap an emotional day for the Ferrari team.
Canada -- Vettel wins to take title initiative —
Sebastian Vettel's 50th career victory saw him replace Lewis Hamilton at the top of the championship standings to cap an emotional day for the Ferrari team.
Dan Istitene/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Vettel -- 121 points<br />Hamilton -- 120 points<br />Bottas -- 86 points
Drivers' title race after round 7 —
Vettel -- 121 points
Hamilton -- 120 points
Bottas -- 86 points
Charles Coates/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Briton Lewis Hamilton won the first French Grand Prix since 2008.<br />The Mercedes driver avoided the worst of a dramatic start that saw title rival Sebastian Vettel clip Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers sustained damage in the collision, forcing them to pit early them and fall to the back of the grid.
France -- Hamilton back in the groove —
Briton Lewis Hamilton won the first French Grand Prix since 2008.
The Mercedes driver avoided the worst of a dramatic start that saw title rival Sebastian Vettel clip Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers sustained damage in the collision, forcing them to pit early them and fall to the back of the grid.
GERARD JULIEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton -- 145 points<br />Vettel -- 131 points<br />Ricciardo -- 96 points
Drivers' title race after round 8 —
Hamilton -- 145 points
Vettel -- 131 points
Ricciardo -- 96 points
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won a dramatic Austrian Grand Prix as hitherto championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, were forced to retire.
Austria -- Verstappen wins after Mercedes meltdown —
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won a dramatic Austrian Grand Prix as hitherto championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, were forced to retire.
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Vettel - 146 points<br />Hamilton - 145 points<br />Raikkonen - 101 points
Drivers' title race after round 9 —
Vettel - 146 points
Hamilton - 145 points
Raikkonen - 101 points
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Home favorite Lewis Hamilton was denied a sixth victory at the British Grand Prix as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took control of the championship at Silverstone
Britain -- Vettel wins despite Hamilton fightback —
Home favorite Lewis Hamilton was denied a sixth victory at the British Grand Prix as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took control of the championship at Silverstone
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Vettel - 171Hamilton - 163Raikkonen - 116
Drivers' title race after round 10 —
Vettel - 171Hamilton - 163Raikkonen - 116
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Hamilton fought back from 14th on the grid to claim an astonishing victory as Vettel crashed out at Hockenheim.
Germany -- Advantage Hamilton as Vettel crashes out —
Hamilton fought back from 14th on the grid to claim an astonishing victory as Vettel crashed out at Hockenheim.
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton - 188<br />Vettel - 171<br />Raikkonen - 131
Drivers' title race after round 11 —
Hamilton - 188
Vettel - 171
Raikkonen - 131
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton went into F1's summer break with a season-high 24-point advantage in the title race over Vettel after winning at the Hungaroring.
Hungary -- Hamilton extends title lead with 'beautiful' win —
Hamilton went into F1's summer break with a season-high 24-point advantage in the title race over Vettel after winning at the Hungaroring.
Laszlo Balogh/AP
Hamilton -- 213 points<br />Vettel -- 189 points<br />Raikkonen -- 146 points
Drivers' title race after round 11 —
Hamilton -- 213 points
Vettel -- 189 points
Raikkonen -- 146 points
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Fernando Alonso's car was launched over the top of Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the Belgian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel went on to win at Spa to cut Lewis Hamilton's lead at the top of the Driver Standings to 17 points.
Belgium -- Vettel wins after spectacular crash —
Fernando Alonso's car was launched over the top of Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the Belgian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel went on to win at Spa to cut Lewis Hamilton's lead at the top of the Driver Standings to 17 points.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Hamilton -- 231Vettel -- 214Raikkonen - 146
Drivers' title race after round 12 —
Hamilton -- 231Vettel -- 214Raikkonen - 146
Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Ferrari's sea of fans -- the 'Tifosi' -- hold up a flag making fun of Lewis Hamilton, but he has the last laugh, winning the Italian Grand Prix for the fifth time
Ferrari's sea of fans -- the 'Tifosi' -- hold up a flag making fun of Lewis Hamilton, but he has the last laugh, winning the Italian Grand Prix for the fifth time
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The story of the 2018 F1 season so far
CNN  — 

No driver on the Formula One grid has experienced wretched luck quite like Daniel Ricciardo this season.

The Australian was forced to retire for the second consecutive race at Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix, causing his frustrations with his Red Bull car to bubble to the surface.

Ricciardo, who will leave to join Renault at the end of the season, has now retired from eight races in 2018.

“I haven’t had a clean race or weekend in so long,” he told reporters. “I’m not superstitious or any of that bulls***t, but the car’s cursed. I don’t have any more words.

MEXICO CITY - NOVEMBER 15: Bronze statue of the great Mexican driver brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez during practice for the Gran Premio Gigante-Telmex, round 19 of the CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) Fed Ex Championship Series on November 15, 2002 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico .(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images).
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“Just things are happening on Sunday which I’ve got no more explanation for. The car, I’ll let Gasly (his replacement at Red Bull next season) drive it, I’m done with it.”

Despite an early mistake which meant he dropped from pole to third after the second corner, Ricciardo drove well on Sunday and was on course for a podium place behind teammate Max Verstappen, which would have given Red Bull a one-two finish.

But a hydraulic problem just 10 laps from the end left Ricciardo considering his seat for the final races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

“I don’t think ‘frustration’ is the word anymore,” he said. “Everything feels hopeless.

“You know, honestly, now where I am, I don’t see the point of coming on Sunday. I don’t see the point of doing the next two races.”

SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 14: Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia Toro Rosso walks in the Paddock before practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 14, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
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Ricciardo’s fury was compounded by the sight of Verstappen, driving the same car, taking top spot on the podium in Mexico for the second year in a row.

“He’s just had an immensely frustrating afternoon. You can understand his emotions are running incredibly high,” said Red Bull team principle Christian Horner.

“It’s gutting not just for him but for the whole team because we were looking at potentially a one-two finish which has enormous value to us.

“It feels a bittersweet victory in that it is fantastic for Max to have driven an outstanding race – absolutely outstanding race, but I’m pretty confident that Daniel would have been able to hold off Sebastian [Vettel] over those remaining laps.

“You can understand his frustration, and hope that this dark cloud that is following him around lifts for the final two races.”