The Palmerston North formula one motor racing driver Brendon Hartley realised early on he'd never to get to complete the Brazilian grand prix as mechanical problems again beset him.
After a good start Hartley, who started 17th on the grid, moved up to 11th at one stage.
However high oil consumption problems eventually forced him to retire.
"We knew that there was a problem early on in the race, as I had to start transferring oil - I didn't want to ask, but I had the feeling that we were not going to get to the end and we didn't.
It's the second straight race Hartley has been forced to retire due to engine problems.
"It's a shame that I had to retire, but I'm happy with the part of the race I competed in - I had a really good start and that was the first box ticked," he said.
Brendon Hartley Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I had to get around Stroll because he sort of stalled in front of me, but all the procedures that we've been working on were really good.
"During the first lap I lost a place to Pierre, which was a bit annoying, but after that I think I drove a pretty good race. I lost radio communication with my engineer for a long time, so that was tricky, especially during the Safety Car restart, trying to remember all the things I had to do!
Hopefully we can have a better race next time out in Abu Dhabi and close the season on a high."
Sebastian Vettel restored Ferrari pride with victory in the race but it was newly-crowned four-times world champion Lewis Hamilton produced the drive of the day from last to fourth for Mercedes.
Hamilton, who won the title in Mexico two weeks ago, started from the pit lane after changes to his car following a crash in qualifying then began a thrilling charge through the field.
The Briton was already up to ninth after 10 laps, with the safety car deployed after opening lap collisions and led the race before the halfway stage as others pitted and he ran longer.
He finished only 5.4 seconds behind Vettel.
"It was fun. It was reminiscent of my karting days when I'd start at the back, particularly in my first year or two," said Hamilton, voted driver of the day by fans in an online poll.
"I messed up yesterday and put myself in the worst position," he added.
"Waking up this morning, my goal was really kind of just to redeem myself... I was trying to get back to third but just ran out of tyres at the end."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff described his stirring performance, with a series of overtakes, as "a champion's drive."
Valtteri Bottas, who had lined up on pole position for Mercedes, saw his hopes of overhauling Vettel for the runner-up position in the championship effectively disappear when he finished second.
Vettel is now 22 points clear of Bottas with only the Abu Dhabi season-ender remaining. Hamilton's unassailable overall lead was reduced to 43.
It was the German's fifth win of the season, 47th of his career, and Ferrari's first success since Hungary at the end of July when Vettel was leading the championship.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen held off Hamilton to take third place for Ferrari, the 2007 world champion's third podium finish in a row.
RNZ/Reuters
