Red Bull rub salt in Ricciardo wounds

DANIEL Ricciardo was already hurting after a disastrous Renault debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

But the pain would only have been intensified at watching his former team Red Bull defy the critics and land a podium in the Formula One season opener.

Ricciardo was forced to retire for the third time at his home grand prix after his Renault never recovered from damage suffered in a frenzied start which initially ripped off his front wing.

The popular Australian could only look on from the garage in frustration as exteammate Max Verstappen stormed to third in a Red Bull entry boasting a new and unproven Honda engine.

Verstappen showed his class by overtaking early season title favourite Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari on the tight Albert Park track to seal his first podium in Melbourne.

It marked the first podium finish Honda has been involved in since 2008. Ricciardo sensationally left Red Bull last year after believing he was playing second fiddle to Verstappen at the Formula One team.

However, he would have been forgiven for thinking he had made the wrong call as Red Bull toasted their success.

Listening to an ecstatic Red Bull team boss Christian Horner would not have helped ease his pain.

After Red Bull rolled the dice and switched from Renault to Honda engines this year, Horner said members of the Japanese manufacturers were “in tears” at the Melbourne podium as the champagne flowed.

“It’s got good power, it’s been reliable. To pass a Ferrari, to be racing wheel to wheel on the straight with them is really positive,” he said. “We’ve got a good base from which to start and really develop this car.”