Hydraulics issue ends Ricciardo’s 2017 on low note

Daniel Ricciardo saw his 2017 Formula 1 World Championship end in disappointment after a hydraulics failure forced him to retire from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which allowed Kimi Raikkonen to steal fourth place from him in the drivers’ standings.

The Red Bull driver endured a nightmare end to the year with three DNFs from the last four races, with a lowly sixth place from a grid drop penalty his only finish coming in Brazil, which saw Raikkonen pass him in the drivers’ championship for fourth place.

Ricciardo had been running in a solid fourth place in the season finale and ahead of the Finnish driver but after clipping the wall at turn 19 which enforced a pit stop for a suspected puncture, the Australian driver quickly picked up an hydraulic issue which ended his year in frustration.

“We had a hydraulic issue. I pitted suddenly because I came out of Turn 19 just before the pits and suddenly the tyre felt weird so I thought I had a puncture so I quickly said ‘oh come in, box, box,’ and then as soon as I got back out I could feel something wasn’t right,” Ricciardo said. “The steering was getting heavier so I knew it was something hydraulic. It was a shame.

“We were doing relatively decent times compared to Vettel and we were looking after the tyres fairly okay. It looked like around the pit stop it could have got interesting with Vettel but it was pretty spread out. I wasn’t particularly exciting.      

“The last three out of four races have been terrible. It is frustrating now but I think the season has been okay. We had highs and lows, a bit of everything, but we would have liked more highs. Excited to have a break now.”