LONDON (Reuters) - 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.
"It's been obviously massive highs and lows this year, more lows unfortunately so it's been frustrating, I won't lie. I owe it to myself and all the guys that work their butts off to give it two more cracks before we see each other off.
"So I will be there. I just needed a few days off, really. It feels good."
Ricciardo, who is being replaced at Red Bull by Toro Rosso's Frenchman Pierre Gasly, has won twice this year as has Dutch team mate Max Verstappen.
The team saw Mexico, where Verstappen won, as their best chance of the final races with only Brazil next week and then Abu Dhabi remaining.
Red Bull are sure of third place in the constructors' championship and cannot catch Ferrari in second.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)