Renault confirms clutch issue sidelined Ricciardo

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Chasing from behind on Sunday, Daniel Ricciardo was moving nicely up the order when the Red Bull driver's charge was suddenly halted by what Renault has identified as a clutch issue.

Red Bull elected to install a brand new Spec-C Renault power unit in the Aussie's RB14, a change that came with an unavoidable grid penalty but which would strategically set him up nicely for Singapore.

The demotion took nothing away from Ricciardo's determination to put in a good effort in the race as his early progress and a few signature overtaking moves clearly showed.

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However, it all came to an end after 23 laps, just as Ricciardo was eying a spot in the points.

"I passed Stroll into Turn 1, then out of the corner, I looked in the mirrors to see if I was clear of him," he recounted.

"I couldn’t see that well and that’s when I realised there was smoke coming out of the back. I mentioned that straight away and they said stop."

A preliminary analysis of the issue by Renault confirmed that Ricciardo's retirement was not engine related, but linked to a clutch failure.

"It’s been a frustrating period of races but hopefully we can change some things on the car, improve the reliability and aim for the podium in Singapore."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.