Fresh tyres make all difference as Ricciardo wins
RED BULL’S Daniel Ricciardo had the last laugh to triumph in a strategic Chinese Formula One Grand Prix yesterday as the winning run of Sebastian Vettel ended and world champion Lewis Hamilton missed the podium as well.
Ricciardo (pictured) and team-mate Max Verstappen pitted for fresh tyres when the safety car was deployed while Ferrari with Vettel and Mercedes with then race leader Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton were not ideally positioned to follow suit.
The fresher tyres made the difference as the Australian Ricciardo stormed to his sixth career victory in the final 20 laps from sixth at the restart, with Bottas second and fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari third.
Hamilton placed fourth while Vettel, who had won the first two season races in Australia and Bahrain, had to settle for eighth after being hit by Verstappen who received a 10-second penalty for the offence.
The outcome was bad news for Ferrari, who had won qualifying from Vettel and Raikkonen, and also for Mercedes after Bottas had moved into first place past Vettel after the first round of stops.
Vettel leads the championship but Hamilton, who finished in the points a record 28th straight grands prix, reduced the deficit to nine points although he and Mercedes must wait at least until the next race on April 29 in Azerbaijan for a first season win.
“I don’t seem to win boring races. That was unexpected,” said Ricciardo who lasted just two laps in Bahrain and had big problems in qualifying on Saturday.
“I heard safety car in Turn 14 and was told to box. It was very quick but very decisive, winning moves from the team. I knew on the soft tyres I could get more out of the braking.”
Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff meanwhile admitted: “The whole weekend we were just not good enough, everywhere ... we just need to get our act together.”
Vettel barely managed to hold on his pole at the start, closing the door on Raikkonen into the first turn while Bottas moved into second past his compatriot.
Bottas then pitted ahead of Vettel which sent him to first place and on course to a fifth straight China victory for Mercedes.
But the safety car was then deployed in lap 30 after a collision between the Toro Rossos of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley.
Both Red Bulls were the only top team perfectly positioned to pit for soft tyres in order to attack in the remaining laps after the restart.
While Verstappen rode out after a first passing attempt on Hamilton and then collided with Vettel - which sent both spinning - Ricciardo roared into the lead with clinical passing of the five other drivers and won in 1 hour 35 minutes 36.380 seconds.
While Ricciardo did the shoey again, gulping down the champagne out of his racing shoe, Bottas was left to lament his fate.
“The race was going pretty well for us and we were looking strong all the way until the guys stopped during the safety car. Then we were in trouble with Daniel and nearly with Kimi,” Bottas said.
“It is disappointing, we were giving everything we had and felt like we deserved the victory.” The hot-headed Verstappen meanwhile acknowledged his mistake, telling Sky TV: “I locked the rears a bit and hit him. That was of course my fault. It’s not what you want.”
Vettel was not amused but also said: “He’s not young anymore. But this can happen when you have done 300 races. Inside the car judgements are very difficult to make. But you have to ultimately have these things in mind and make sure you don’t crash.”