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Red Bull Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo admitted he was counting on the gap between Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen opening up in their Japanese Grand Prix startline clash.

Ricciardo's left rear tyre made contact with the right front of Massa's Williams as he tried to squeeze between it and the Ferrari after making a faster start at Suzuka.

"It was another blinder," said Ricciardo of his start.

"It was actually too good. I didn't know where to go.

"I saw the gap and figured it would open up - that once I was there they'd see me in the mirrors and give me some space.

"I haven't seen a replay so I don't know. I guess there wasn't enough room, or they kept closing on me.

"It was a shame as I think I would have comfortably had both of them before Turn 1."

The Australian had to do a full lap with a puncture and could only recover to 15th place, struggling with some floor damage.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Massa triggered the contact.

"It was a shame as Ricciardo had a good start and went for the gap and Massa moved a little bit," he said.

"It was a racing incident and the result was a puncture at the worst possible time."

After its second and sixth places in Singapore a week ago, Red Bull did not score at all in Japan.

Daniil Kvyat started from the pitlane following his enormous qualifying crash, and finished 13th after multiple problems.

As well as being ordered not to use overtaking engine settings to avert a potential reliability issue, Kvyat also struggled with what Horner described as "asymmetric brake temperatures" throughout.

"I was just a sitting duck all race," Kvyat said.

"I had problems with the brakes, the tyres and no overtake button, so it was complicated.

"P13 is quite shit. I'm not so satisfied."