Ricciardo ready to race after setback

LONDON : A perkier Daniel Ricciardo made clear on Friday that he was ready for the last two races of the Formula One season after suggesting in Mexico last weekend that he could give up on his Red Bull.

The usually upbeat Australian, who is leaving for Renault at the end of the year, did not hide his disappointment after starting on pole position only to suffer his eighth retirement in 19 races.

Declaring his car to be ‘cursed’, he said his situation felt hopeless and “I don’t see the point of doing the next two races”.

On Friday Ricciardo took to Instagram to reassure his 1.7 million followers and ‘address a few things from Mexico’.

“First ones first, I will be doing the last two races,” he said. “That’s what I’m about.

ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOSES APPEAL

PARIS : French Formula One driver Romain Grosjean’s appeal against his disqualification from September’s Italian Grand Prix has been rejected, his Haas team said on Friday.

Grosjean finished sixth on the road for the Ferrari-powered American team at Monza, but rivals Renault lodged a protest against the legality of his car, which was found to have an irregular, non-compliant floor design.

“Obviously we are disappointed not to have won our appeal,” Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said in a statement on Twitter.