Ricciardo: I don’t really have any explanation

The #3 car requires a sixth gearbox, hence the mandatory penalty dished out by FIA delegates at Interlagos. Knowing this prompted Ricciardo to line up at the end of the pitlane so as to be the first one out in FP1 just in case others incur penalties too.

Nine DNFs thus far have tarnished his final season in blue. After Mexico in frustration, he offered his car to Pierre Gasly.

Speaking ahead of practice Ricciardo recalled, “I looked at the first six months of last year, Max [Verstappen] seemed to have most if not all of it. Then in the last six months, I seemed to have most or all of it."

"So last year it was spread out in a way between us, and this year certainly it is been more me. Max had the failure in Budapest and maybe somewhere else. But it certainly has been a lot more top heavy for me this year."

“I don’t really have any explanation. It sounds really simple and silly, but bad luck really is the best term I can use. I think all the team still like me, so no one has it in for me. It has just been the way it has worked this year."

"So, I’ll keep trying. I know Sunday afternoons I am pretty pissed and animated, but honestly, I wake up Monday and am ready to go again. So it does not last too long," added Ricciardo.