The Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says his disqualification from the Australian grand prix doesn't dent the pride he feels after appearing on the podium in his maiden Formula One race.
The 24-year-old West Australian driver was stripped of his second placing more than five hours after Sunday's Grand Prix when stewards declared his Red Bull team breached the rules by using too much fuel during his race.
While Red Bull will appeal the outcome, Ricciardo was not in the mood to speculate on the outcome of a potentially lengthy and technical process to earn back his championship points.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner echoed the race stewards' report which cleared Ricciardo of any wrong-doing, and vowed to fight a ruling that left the reigning champions without any points from the season's first grand prix.
Ricciardo's expulsion was a consequence of the introduction of controversial rule changes for the 2014 season, which limit fuel use, downsized car engines and changed car aerodynamics.
Australian grand prix chief executive Andrew Westacott was among those disappointed with the lacklustre sound of the new car.
He says he was able to stand on pit wall at the start of the race without ear plugs were as in previous years the noise would shake his bones.
