Ricciardo loses F1 challenge, to rugby players

Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo appears to have suffered his first loss of 2016, albeit in bizarre circumstances.

In one of the more unusual publicity stunts seen in sport, Ricciardo pitted Red Bull’s 2012 world championship-winning RB8 against players from Bath's rugby team.

And though he had 750 brake horsepower at his disposal, the F1 ace proved no match for Bath’s eight man pack, which comfortably stood its ground in the face of burning rubber.

The man-versus-machine challenge, set in Bath's stunning Farleigh House training facility, was designed to help promote Red Bull's preparations for this year's F1 season.

And whilst Ricciardo clearly seemed to have traction issues, we can only hope he makes better inroads when racing begins.