The trademark grin was almost wiped off Daniel Ricciardo's face after the crowd favourite was relegated to 12th on the grid for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.
The Australian cut a frustrated figure after failing to live up to the hype in his Renault debut ahead of the Formula One season opener, ensuring he would start one place behind teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
But Ricciardo still managed a smile, backing himself to come out "with a chip on my shoulder" and make inroads on Sunday on the midfield.
"Normally, if I don't do so well in qualifying, I seem to carry a chip on my shoulder for the race which helps me out, so I will use it as fuel for tomorrow," he said.
"I don't think 12th is a representation of where we are - I feel we are better.
"I'm very optimistic for the race. It's just a matter of if we can pass and attack."
Ricciardo had played down his podium chances since his shock exit from Red Bull but he even he was surprised by his underwhelming Renault debut.
He failed to make the third and final stage of Saturday's one-hour qualifying session that featured the 10 fastest drivers.
"I think we had the pace for Q3 (final qualifying stage)," Ricciardo said.
"I'm not sure how deep we would have went but we only had half a tenth (of a second) to get there (Q3) and that was in the car.
"That alone made me more frustrated with myself."
At least Ricciardo could get into his new Renault on Saturday.
He had an inauspicious start with his new team on Friday with a bizarre seatbelt malfunction delaying his start in second practice.
He couldn't be strapped into the cockpit properly, costing him precious practice time.
"I don't know what went on because the (seat) belts ... the measurements weren't adding up," he said.
"But I haven't got fat. I know that's what you were about to ask me. I've been too busy to be eating."
Team engineers could be seen taking a hammer to Ricciardo's seat in the garage in a desperate bid to get the belt to fit.
Renault development driver Jack Aitken revealed in eye-watering detail where the belt refused to cooperate with Ricciardo.
"Yeah, something around the gentleman area," he told Sky Sports, prompting giggles from commentators.
