Daniel Ricciardo wins Malaysia thriller

  • Published on 02 Oct 2016 10:38
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Daniel Ricciardo has won a thrilling Malaysia Grand Prix after engine failure robbed Lewis Hamilton of a certain victory.

Hamilton made a good start from pole position, with team mate and championship rival Nico Rosberg in tow until a charging Sebastian Vettel tagged his compatriot, sending the Mercedes driver spinning and taking him out of the race.

From then on, Hamilton held the lead apart from during pit stop cycles. The Red Bull duo held on to the other two podium spots.

Despite strategy gambles for both Red Bull drivers in an attempt to overhaul Hamilton, the Brit continued to lead until lap 41 when a dramatic engine failure ended his race and his hopes of reclaiming the championship lead this weekend.

That handed Ricciardo the lead and despite a close battle with team mate Max Verstappen, he held on to record his first victory since 2014.

Rosberg recovered from dropping to the back of the field to take third place, despite being handed a 10 seconds penalty for contact with Kimi Raikkonen. Once the penalty had been factored in, Rosberg finished the race three seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver.

Valtteri Bottas gave Williams a vital fifth place, ahead of Force India's Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso took a fine sixth place after starting from last place, he beat Nico Hulkenberg in the other Force India.

Jenson Button made it two points finishes for McLaren - only the third time that has happened all season - while Jolyon Palmer's long wait for his first Formula One point ended with a tenth place finish.

Carlos Sainz and Marcus Ericsson were in 11th and 12th, with Felipe Massa in 13. The Brazilian had a nightmare race after throttle problems saw him start from the pit lane, and then a puncture during the race set him back further.

Daniil Kvyat and Manor duo Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon were the final finishers in a race that featured an unusually high attrition rate by modern standards.

Felipe Nasr was a late retirement, joining Hamilton, Esteban Gutierrez who lost a wheel, Kevin Magnussen who sustained damage on the opening lap, Romain Grosjean who appeared to have another brake failure, and Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton's retirement coupled with Rosberg's excellent recovery drive and podium means that Rosberg now holds a 23 point lead in the championship with just five races remaining.

MY Sepang International - 02 October 2016

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,049
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 175
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile
show sidebar