Ricciardo overcomes power loss to win Monaco GP
Red Bull Racing ace wins his second Formula One race of the season with a lights-to-flag victory to defeat Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo overcame a mid-race power loss to win the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday.
The Australian driver showed outstanding composure and defensive driving to fend off Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari for his second Formula One win of the season after his victory at the Chinese Grand Prix last month. In all, the likeable driver has clinched seven Formula One victories.
Vettel shaved a few points off championship leader Lewis Hamilton, of Mercedes, who finished third. Hamilton has 110 championship points, Vettel is on 96 and Ricciardo on 72.
Hamilton made an audacious move by pitting for new tyres several laps before his rivals, but was worried they would wear out completely by the end.
Ricciardo was overjoyed with his victory as he hugged teammates and said: “I think I can show more emotion than yesterday. This is two years in the making, I finally feel redemption [after coming second in 2016]. We had problems, a lot to deal with and before halfway I felt a loss of power and thought the race was done.
“We got home using just six gears, but we got it home and I’m stoked. There were a few doubts that came in mid-race, but we won Monaco – it feels good.”
The virtual safety car came out for the last few laps after Charles Leclerc lost his brakes and shunted his Sauber into the back of Brendon Hartley’s Toro Rosso. Drivers are not allowed to overtake when the VSC is deployed and must maintain a steady speed.
The incident came too late and made no difference to the overall race picture.
Kimi Raikkonen was fourth for Ferrari ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Force India’s Esteban Ocon.
