adminSYDNEY. — Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo yesterday tweeted the broadest smile in Formula One after claiming his maiden F1 weekend victory for Red Bull in the Canadian Grand Prix.
“I officially can’t smile any bigger than that, so you’ve seen it all now,” tweeted a beaming Ricciardo on social media after his breakthrough victory in Montreal on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Australian took full advantage of power and electrical problems that hit both championship leader Nico Rosberg and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to claim a stirring triumph.
Ricciardo is the fourth driver from Australia to record a Formula One victory, earning his place alongside greats Jack Brabham, Alan Jones and his predecessor at Red Bull, Mark Webber.
It was Ricciardo’s third consecutive podium finish after coming third in Spain and Monaco, and it puts him in third position in the drivers’ championship behind the Mercedes pair of Rosberg and Hamilton.
Ricciardo was close to a victory in his first race with Red Bull in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix in March, but after finishing second, he was disqualified for a technical infringement.
Webber labelled the win the “first of many” on Twitter, while Australia’s last Canadian grand prix winner Jones — now a Formula One commentator on Australian television — said: “I don’t care if it’s six o’clock in the morning, I’m going to have a beer!”
Ricciardo’s infectious smile spread all the way back home to Perth in Western Australia where his dad, Joe, watched the race and celebrated the victory with family and friends.
“We’ve had two or three glasses of champagne already,” Ricciardo senior told radio.
“A first win is always a little bit special after a long journey.
“He was amazing. We’re very proud of him.
“I’m lost for words . . . Wish we could have been there to hug you.”
On Sunday, Daniel Ricciardo beamed from ear to ear when he ended Mercedes early-season domination by claiming his maiden Formula One victory for Red Bull in a dramatic crash-hit Canadian Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Australian took full advantage of power and electrical problems that hit both championship leader Nico Rosberg and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to claim a stirring triumph.
“I am still a bit in shock,” said Daniel Ricciardo. “Thanks everyone. This is ridiculous! There are lots of Australian flags . . . which is nice.
“The race really came to life for the last 15-20 laps . . . Hamilton had a problem and Rosberg was slow down the straights. I really struggled to get past (Sergio) Perez, but managed to do that and set my sights on Nico with a couple of laps to go.
“I finally managed to get in the right spot to use DRS — and it’s an amazing feeling right now.”
Daniel Ricciardo was close to a victory in his first race with Red Bull on home turf in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix in March, but after finishing second, he was disqualified for a technical infringement.
Briton Hamilton was forced to retire, but German Rosberg managed to nurse his car home in second place ahead of Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull team-mate defending four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel.
“We had a problem at the pit stop and that’s why I dropped behind,” said Rosberg. “Then I lost a lot of power in the straights, but it did not quite work out. I couldn’t hold off Daniel Ricciardo.”
Rosberg’s second place allowed him to open up a 22-point lead on Hamilton in the championship standings. Ricciardo is third 71 points behind the German. The final lap was run behind a Safety Car after a horrifying high-speed collision between Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India and Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams saw them fly off into the barriers. — AFP.
Online Reporter