In his first year at Red Bull, Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has ranked third in the 2014 drivers’ championship.
Despite failing to finish the Brazilian Grand Prix on Monday, the driver has accumulated enough points to secure his place in the top three of the World Champions ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi in two weeks.
At at the Brazil Grand Prix, Ricciardo was able to see out 39 laps around the Interlagos circuit before he was forced to retire with suspension failure.
Ricciardo sensed he had a problem with the car from the start of the race.
“When I went into turn one, the car went to the right and I knew there was a problem,” he said after the race.
“I came into the pits and the team told me it was suspension failure and we retired.”
It was the first time since the Malaysian Grand Prix in March that the Western Australian driver was unable to collect points from a race.
“It’s a shame, but I had a pretty good run until now, so I can’t be too greedy,” Ricciardo said.
“It would be good to finish on the podium at the final race of the season.”
Ricciardo has had a remarkable debut season for Red Bull after overcoming a disappointing start to the year.
He was second across the line in the Melbourne Grand Prix before being disqualified for breaching fuel flow regulations.
That was followed by a non-finish in Malaysia before his luck turned.
Fourth-placings in Bahrain and China were followed by third in Spain and Monaco before his breakthrough win in the Canadian Grand Prix.
With one race to go Ricciardo boasts three wins in 2014 after also taking out the Hungarian and Belgian grands prix.
Source: ABC