Ricciardo left ‘giggling like a little schoolboy’ at unlikely triumph
Daniel Ricciardo raced towards the chequered flag laughing like a schoolboy after he recorded the most unlikely of victories.
Ricciardo started 10th in yesterday’s race before he dropped towards the back of the field after an unscheduled early pit stop.
But, remarkably, the Australian led with 18 laps remaining – after Lewis Hamilton pitted when his headrest came loose, and Sebastian Vettel served his 10-second penalty – before sealing both his and Red Bull’s first victory of the year.
“Did I think that I would win? Absolutely not,” Ricciardo said. “I would have put all of my money on it that it was very unlikely.
“I’m speechless. On the slowdown lap I was kind of just giggling. Giggling like a little schoolboy.”
Ricciardo’s victory here at the Baku City Circuit was the climax of a frenetic race which, for its pure entertainment value, is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon. “We knew
that the podium was a chance after the restart, but then we heard the problems with Lewis and Seb,” Ricciardo added. “It was just a crazy race.”
Lance Stroll appeared on course to finish second, only to be pipped on the line by Bottas. Nevertheless, the 18-year-old rookie landed the first podium of his short career.
After drinking champagne from Ricciardo’s sweaty race boot, a jubilant Stroll said: “I’m just lost for words right now. I can’t quite realise what just happened.
“It was a hectic race with people crashing, but we just stayed out of trouble. I just kept my head cool and took it to the end.”
Fernando Alonso helped to lift some of the dark clouds lingering above Mclaren after he scored his and the British team’s first points of the year by finishing ninth.
Englishman Jolyon Palmer, however, retired on lap seven following an engine issue.