Australia’s Ricciardo takes Chinese GP
Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo yanked off his right shoe, poured champagne into it as he stood on the podium, and then drank up to his unlikely victory in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The Australian started from the third row, but took advantage when the safety car came out on the 31st lap to allow him to get fresh, soft tires when the other leaders were running on worn rubber and couldn’t get in quickly to change. Ricciardo got quicker and quicker and took the lead on the 45th lap of the 56-lap race, overtaking Valtteri Bottas with a dive on the inside past the Mercedes driver. Bottas finished second with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in third. Defending champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth. Lance Stroll of Montreal was 14th.