Ricciardo: China race 'worth 50 bad ones'
ByAutoSport
Updated 15/04/2018 at 11:30 GMT
Daniel Ricciardo believes his Chinese Grand Prix victory is worth "50" bad experiences like the disastrous race he endured in Bahrain that left him frustrated with Formula 1.
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) - GP of China 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
A bold pass on Valtteri Bottas to win in China capped a stunning charge from Ricciardo, after Red Bull opted to pit him during a safety car for fresh tyres.
The result came a week after Ricciardo retired from the Bahrain GP on the second lap, and 24 hours after only just making it out in time for qualifying in China following a spectacular engine failure in practice.
"It was awesome," he said. "We really thought we were going to start the race from the back, just over 24 hours later to be here now...this sport's crazy.
"A week ago I was with my head down after two laps. Frustrated at the sport, frustrated at all the variables that are involved in the sport.
"Sometimes I questioned why I chose this sport because there are so many other things outside your control.
"It does get you down a lot. But when you have a day like this it's worth 50 of those bad ones."
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/04/15/2313922-48177210-2560-1440.jpg)
Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing celebrates after the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 15, 2018 in Shanghai, China.
Image credit: Getty Images
Ricciardo dived in for new soft tyres with 23 laps remaining, while erstwhile leader Bottas and his main challenger Sebastian Vettel stayed out on mediums having passed the pitlane entry before the safety car was deployed.
Ricciardo overtook Kimi Raikkonen before passing team-mate Max Verstappen when the youngster ran wide battling Lewis Hamilton.
Ricciardo was not sure he would be able to make his tyres last to the end and only seriously thought he could win once he realised he had "wicked pace".
He passed Hamilton, Vettel and Bottas to win the race.
"At the rate we were going through the field, and I could feel the tyres were holding on well, I was obviously fully set on the win," Ricciardo added.
"I had pace over all the guys I got ahead but you still don't want to sit behind for too long. I saw Valtteri defend, I'd kind of committed from Turn 3 that I was gonna try.
"It's cool when you go wheel-to-wheel, it's fun for drivers and it's good TV. I enjoyed it, it makes a bit sweeter than just cruising past on the straight so that was a lot of fun."
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/04/15/2313912-48177010-2560-1440.jpg)
Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing celebrates after the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 15, 2018 in Shanghai, China
Image credit: Getty Images
Bottas, who thought he had the race won after jumping Vettel in the pits, said he was helpless as soon as he saw Ricciardo had cleared the rest of the field.
"He was closing lap after lap with pretty big gains" said Bottas. "From my side there was not much to do, try to defend but ultimately with the better tyres he could really brake quite a lot later and got inside.
"We lost the win in the end, [but] we were still the first car to do the one-stop so that was good.
"Initial feeling is disappointment because the win has slipped away."
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement