Ricciardo joy follows Hamilton woe in Malaysia
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[October 03, 2016]
By Abhishek Takle
SEPANG, Malaysia (Reuters) - Daniel
Ricciardo claimed an elusive maiden win of the season at a dramatic
Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, the Australian handed
victory when a race-leading Lewis Hamilton retired with a blown
engine.
Ricciardo was shadowed across the line by his 19-year-old Red Bull
team mate Max Verstappen, a result that gave the former champion
team a first one-two finish since the 2013 season-ending Brazilian
Grand Prix in their dominant heyday.
Nico Rosberg finished third for Mercedes, fighting back from 21st
after being spun around by Sebastian Vettel at the start and also
collecting a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with
Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari.
The result prevented Mercedes from wrapping up a third straight
constructors' title at the home race for title sponsor Petronas but
allowed Rosberg to extend his championship lead over team mate
Hamilton to 23 points with five races remaining.
The Briton, who kept clear of the chaos unfolding behind him to
build on a dominant pole, was comfortably on course to score a 50th
career win when his engine exploded in a burst flames, with 16
circuits of the 56-lap race to run.
"I just can't believe that there are eight Mercedes cars and only my
engines are the ones that have been going this year," the
31-year-old triple world champion, who also suffered a series of
reliability woes earlier this season, told reporters.
"Something just doesn't feel right but there's nothing I can do
about it.
"These next five races, I know me and my mechanics have got it in us
but who knows what those next engines that I have are going to do,"
the visibly disappointed Briton added.
'SHOEY' CELEBRATION
Ricciardo, who lost a certain victory to his Mercedes rival at the
Monaco Grand Prix in May due to a bungled pitstop, was more than
happy to accept his good fortune in Malaysia.
"It obviously went the other way at Monaco, so I'll take this
today," Ricciardo said after marking his fourth career win by
drinking champagne from his boot in his now famous 'shoey'
celebration.
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Bull's Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates on the podium.
REUTERS/Edgar Su
"No hard feelings to Lewis but I'll definitely take the win," added
the Australian, who last won at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix and had
claimed four podiums in the last five races. There was no evidence
of the misfortune that would befall Hamilton at the start when the
Briton pulled clear from pole, keeping the lead off the line ahead
of his team mate and through the first corner. Behind him, though,
there was a tremendous battle for position with Verstappen and
Vettel fighting for the same piece of road only for the Ferrari to
tag the back of Rosberg's Mercedes that pushed the championship
leader into a spin.
The damage from the collision broke Vettel's suspension, ending his
race immediately, and prompting the first of several virtual safety
car periods. From that point on the race was finely poised
strategically with Verstappen initially gambling on a two-stop
strategy as Hamilton and Ricciardo opted for one less tire change.
The Red Bull pair engaged in a lively tussle of their own in the
second half of the grand prix, racing side-by-side before Ricciardo
gained an advantage, until they both pitted one last time after
Hamilton's retirement.
Raikkonen finished fourth for Ferrari after battling Rosberg for the
final podium spot, the Finn unable to take advantage of the penalty
handed to his rival after the German clattered into him while
overtaking.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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