Raikkonen wins US Grand Prix, Ricciardo puts fist through wall

KIMI Raikkonen has won a tense US Grand Prix, breaking the record for most races between victories in Formula 1 history, while Daniel Ricciardo vented his frustration in the paddock after retiring on lap eight.

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Despite a strong start, Ricciardo’s race came to a rude end when his RB14 lost all power halfway through the hairpin at Turn 11. He was running fourth at the time and in position for a potential podium finish.

Getting out of his car to stand trackside, the anger was clearly visible in Ricciardo’s body language. The retirement is his seventh in 18 races so far this season.

"It's a crying shame for Daniel, I feel so sorry for him," Horner said. "It looks identical to the power unit issue he had in Bahrain where it's just gone into complete shutdown - you could see it mid-corner.

"He was driving a strong grand prix and would have been right there too. It's so frustrating for him.”

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Once Ricciardo was able to get back to the paddock, the exasperated Australian boiled over, according to Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner.

"He's taken out his frustration in his room by putting his fist through the wall, which you can totally relate to."

Horner couldn’t stop himself from sinking the boot into the Aussie, with a sly dig at his driver’s move to the factory Renault team next year, who are presently supplying powertrains to Red Bull.

"I'm sure [Ricciardo] will be having a word with his future employers about it – it’s so frustrating to keep losing him from races at the moment," Horner said.

"He doesn't blame the [Red Bull] team in any way, he knows we are doing everything we can, it's just one of those things.

"Hopefully we've got enough components in our [engine] pool for him not to take a penalty [next weekend in Mexico].”

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Avoiding grid penalties at the next grand prix is pivotal, as the Red Bulls could be in the fight for victory at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, which suits their car better than most.

"I think both guys can be strong in Mexico,” Horner added. “We won it well last year, a really dominant win for us [with Verstappen].

"At that altitude the engines can't breathe [as easily] and it brings it all closer together, and that gives us a chance.

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"We're lacking that horsepower, and this will give us a fairer chance on a Saturday, and you can see we've got a good race car."

Raikkonen ended a five year losing streak at the Texan track, with his last win occurring at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix with Lotus – a gap of 112 races.

Max Verstappen carved his way from 18th on the grid to finish second, while Lewis Hamilton finished third.

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Hamilton will have to wait at least another week to secure his fifth world drivers’ championship after Sebastian Vettel finished fourth, earning enough points to stay in a mathematical chance for the title.

The Ferrari driver spun on the first lap after clashing with Ricciardo, falling down the order in what was deemed a racing incident by stewards.

Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top five.

Hamilton now leads Vettel by 70 points, with just 75 points available in the next three grands prix, which Vettel must win in order to have any chance at a fifth title.