Dan’s king after battle of Baku
DANIEL Ricciardo produced a storming drive, battling back from 17th position to win an incident- packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Australian Red Bull driver made the most of a scrap between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to win from the Mercedes of Valterri Bottas and Williams rookie Lance Stroll.
Championship leader Vettel finished fourth in his Ferrari, while pole- sitting Mercedes star Hamilton was fifth after both were penalised on the streets of Baku.
The result is Ricciardo’s first victory since he won the Malaysian Grand Prix in October last year and his fourth straight podium after third places in Spain, Monaco and Canada. But the 27- year- old Australian didn’t have it all his way yesterday, having to pit on lap six for a problem caused by debris from Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari.
“It was just a crazy race,” Ricciardo said.
“We knew the podium was a chance after the restart and then we heard about the problems with Lewis and Seb.
“I made an unplanned pit stop at the beginning. We had some debris in the brakes, so we had to stop and clean them and dropped back to 17th place. Did I think I would win today? Absolutely not.” The race fell apart for so many of Ricciardo’s rivals. His teammate Max Verstappen retired with engine problems before Daniil Kvyat parked his Toro Rosso, prompting a safety car behind which Vettel and Hamilton collided. Race leader Hamilton slowed suddenly and Vettel could not avoid making contact from behind. Vettel reacted to what he deemed to be brake- testing by i m m e d i a t e l y drawing level with Hamilton and turning his car into his rival’s in a deliberate act of revenge.
Hamilton later lost his lead, having to pit to refix his head restraint, while Vettel was issued a 10- second stopand- go penalty for dangerous driving.
“He brake- tested me. What the f--- is going on?” yelled Vettel over the team radio.
On the restart, the Force Indias of Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez collided, allowing Ricciardo to sneak into fifth for the second restart.
He then passed the Williams pair of Felipe Massa and Stroll to move into third.
When Vettel pitted, Ricciardo strolled into the lead to streak away with victory.
The Australian could hardly believe his luck.
“I said yesterday we had to stay out of trouble and it certainly paid off today,” Ricciardo said.
“On the cool- down lap, I was just giggling like a little schoolboy.”
Stroll, at 18 years and 239 days, became the youngest driver to make the podium in his first Formula One season.
His first podium included Ricciardo’s famous “shoes” celebration, although the Canadian seemed to far from relish the idea of drinking from the Australian’s sweaty boot.
With the victory, Ricciardo stays fourth in the drivers’ championship, while Vettel moved 14 points ahead of Hamilton at the top.