Daniel Ricciardo was in fine form as he reflected on his remarkable run to victory in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The Australian capitalised on a decision by Red Bull to pit both cars under a Safety Car – ironically called for debris after both Toro Rosso’s collided at the hairpin – and would pass four drivers using his fresh Soft tyres to claim his first win of 2018 and first since Baku last year.
Giving his first reaction, it was only fair the 28-year-old highlighted the work done by his team to change his engine between practice and qualifying on Saturday, with Ricciardo only getting on track with three minutes of Q1 remaining.
“I don’t seem to win boring races,” he laughed. “That was unexpected.
“24 hours ago I thought we may be starting at the back of the grid. Thanks to the boys, today is the real reward for that. The mechanics worked their butts off.”
He then praised the last-minute decision to pit for a second time when the Safety Car was called, one that ultimately turned around what had been a pretty dull race till that point.
“It was hectic,” he said. “I heard Safety Car and they said we are going to double stop, come. It happened very quickly, very decisive winning move from the team.
“Fat lip and all, I got the win,” he added.
But of course, it was the overtakes which got everyone talking, with perhaps his lunge on Lewis Hamilton into the hairpin the most impressive of the quartet he achieved.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to lick the stamp and send it,” he declared
“Obviously I knew I could get a little more out of the braking them him. You know you have one chance to try so I made the most of every opportunity.”