The Australian went from hero to zero in Montreal when the 2014 Canadian GP race winner could manage only 13th on Sunday. He finished five places – and 33 seconds – behind teammate Daniil Kvyat.

Asked what Red Bull Racing could do to improve the situation, he replied: “Let's say looking ahead to next season, we've definitely got to address the big issues. Obviously for now we've got we've got. Firstly I've got to understand why my race was so poor, compared to Dany as well.

“We did have a different setup, I actually had more downforce than him, which should have suited me better in Sector 1 and 2, but we were sliding around and couldn't get the tyres to work either.

“There's something there that isn't right. First we have to understand the things on my car and then as a team we'll keep looking forward of course, but where to start, I'm not sure.

“I'm sure the guys will have some answers after today, but right now I'm honestly really confused about that race, it was a mystery.”

“We didn’t have pace”

Ricciardo was passed by Sergio Perez’s Force India and the Toro Rosso of Carlos Sainz Jr during the race, as he slumped from ninth on the grid to 13th in the race.

“I tried and nothing worked,” he said. “We didn't have pace. It's nearly a mirror race of 2013 for me. Jean-Eric [Vergne] was sixth, his best result of the season, and I was like 15th. I was a second slower and didn't really have any answers for it.

“The year after I won, and now I'm struggling to keep up with anyone on track. I don't know, at the moment all I can do is laugh, because racecars are complicated, some days you don't understand them.

“We didn't expect to be that slow in the race. I knew I wasn't fighting for points, but I was still pushing and trying to get as much as I could out of it. But it was just one of those races when you're just going round and round.

“It's like banging your head against the wall, nothing good's coming out of it. I got lapped by a Williams, so that's a pretty bad day for us.”