Coulthard on Ricciardo DNFs: Drivers don't know their luck!

David Coulthard reacted with little sympathy after Daniel Ricciardo suffered an eight DNF of 2018, arguing that only the Australian comes close to knowing what drivers f the past went through. Ricciardo's latest non-finish came as a result of hydraulic failure while he ran in second place.

Ricciardo has had more DNFs than any driver this year – four of them coming in the seven races since he announced he will leave Red Bull at the end of the year.

Coulthard suffered eight retirements in a 17-race 1995 season – his first full F1 campaign – and the Scot says some drivers may take modern-age reliability for granted.

Asked if he had suffered a similar run in his career, Coulthard said on Channel 4: "Yes, absolutely.

"I raced at a time when we regularly didn't finish so these kids today don't know how good they've got it - with the exception of Daniel of course.

But there's no hiding from the fact that it's a bitter sweet day for the Team... ???? #MexicoGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/xBqm25Vq9E — Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 28, 2018

"Now if you have one or two failures it's unacceptable. But we regularly didn't finish 40 per cent of the race."

Ricciardo's post-race anger raised eyebrows and team principal Christian Horner hopes that Red Bull can clear the "dark cloud" hanging over the Australian .

"It's just frustration, I don't think he really means it," Coulthard said of Ricciardo's apparent quit threat.

"But he's moving onto Renualt next year and he knows the two remaining tracks are not necessarily ones that would suit the Red Bull so he knows this was the last opportunity for a win."

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