Daniel Ricciardo survived reliability problems to hold off Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to claim last night’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Ricciardo was comfortably in charge early on, leading the field from pole position, before an apparent engine problem on lap 20 that took hold for the remainder of the race.
He managed the loss of power to the end, clinching his seventh Grand Prix Victory and surely one of his best, navigating the tight and unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo all the while being constantly harassed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
The Red Bull driver said he thought his second crack at the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position would be scuppered once again by forces out of his control, referencing his agonising defeat in 2016 due to an errant pitstop.
“We had a lot to deal with during the race. I felt a loss of power and I thought the race was done – I got home just using six gears,” he said.
“Two years in the making and I finally feel redemption has arrived.”
“I finally put it to bed…”
You most certainly did, @danielricciardo #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gl0M02jLRo
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 27, 2018
Team boss Christian Horner was quick to praise his Australian driver, revealing to Skysports after the race that team engineers were telling him that they would have to retire Ricciardo’s car.
“They’re telling me on the intercom they’ll have to retire the car in one or two laps,” he said.
“I said ‘look, we’re in the lead of the Monaco Grand Prix we’re keeping going.”
“He was not going to give this race up this weekend – He drove an unbelievable race.”
Ricciardo’s victory is his second of the season, pitching him in the title fight with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
The win topped a huge weekend for Australian motorsport, with Queensland’s Will Power winning the iconic Indianapolis 500 in the United States only hours later.
Will Power completes IndyCar resume, claiming the Indianapolis 500
Will Power became the first Australian to win one of the biggest motor racing events on the planet, calmly taking out the Indianapolis 500.
The win adds to an impressive resume, with Power already an IndyCar series champion and four time runner-up.
Power, who started on the front row of the 500 mile race around a banked oval course, was on the charge throughout the majority of the race, coming home ahead of pole sitter and teammate Ed Carpenter and New Zealand’s Scott Dixon.
The victory marks the end of a perfect month of racing for Will Power, as he clinched his 33rd career victory on the speedway version of the course only weeks earlier.
We did it!! We got to drink the milk!#Indy500 #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/HYH0STDxlW
— Will Power (@12WillPower) May 27, 2018
“ I had a great month. I just can’t believe it. I was wondering if I would ever win it,” he told reporters after the race.
“My career, I’ve had so many wins, so many poles, but everyone talks about the 500 and I just couldn’t imagine winning a race in front of a crowd like this.”
Power has now moved to the top of the championship standings, two points clear of second placed Alexander Rossi with two victories this season.
The win has given team owner Roger Penske is 17th Indianapolis 500 victory.
