Ricciardo makes return to podium
DANIEL Ricciardo was happy to claim his first podium finish of the season when third behind winner Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver Hamilton cut Ferrari rival Vettel’s overall lead in the championship to six points, winning by 3.4 seconds from the German after a tense, tight two- man battle as tyre strategies played out on Sunday.
On an afternoon that saw the two multiple world champions in a battle of their own with the rest so far behind they might as well have been in another race, Australian Ricciardo was the only other driver not lapped as his Red Bull car finished 75.8 seconds behind the winner.
“I’m happy to be back on the podium today, it’s the first one of the season for me which is nice but actually the race was quite a lonely one,” said Ricciardo, who was on the podium for the first time since the Mexico Grand Prix last October.
“I didn’t have any real battles and my race was more about trying to keep a rhythm and maintain concentration.”
Ricciardo admitted he got a bit lucky as he inherited third place from Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas after the Finn’s engine expired.
The Australian is fifth in the driver standings on 37 points while Vettel leads on 104, Hamilton has 98, Bottas has 63, Kimi Raikkonen ( Ferrari) is fourth on 49.
Vettel did all he could to beat Hamilton with a thrilling move to pass Bottas that will be replayed for some time to come.
Hamilton was delighted with his performance.
“That’s how racing should be and I loved it,” he said.