F1: 'Redemption' for Ricciardo at fairytale Monaco GP

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01:09

In a sport where the fastest and the strongest car conventionally wins the race, a magnificent Daniel Ricciardo raced to redemption with the slowest and the weakest car at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver, who not only topped the practice sessions but also grabbed the pole position on Saturday, scripted a fairytale victory with a car that lost its power up to 25 percent on lap 28 and continued to hold on to his lead for the remaining 50 before crossing the checkered flag ahead of his rival drivers.

Race winner Daniel Ricciardo celebrates on the podium during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. /VCG Photo

The Australian could only use six of his eight gears after the mid-race debacle and was at least 12 km/h slower than Sebastien Vettel, whose high-speed Ferrari was ferociously chasing him down but failed to outpace him in the end.

It was indeed poetic justice for the Australian, who came agonizingly close to winning the race in a tight-cornered Monte Carlo track before a wrongly timed pit-stop snatched away a win.

Interestingly, soon after crossing the checkered flag, Ricciardo radioed his team, saying: ‘Redemption’ in an obvious reference to his 2016 heartbreak.

Daniel Ricciardo celebrates with a swan dive into the swimming pool of the Red Bull Energy Station after the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix win. /VCG Photo

He has now moved into third place in the drivers’ championship and 38 points adrift of reigning champion Lewis Hamiltion, who could manage to finish 3rd in Monaco. Vettel is still second in the championship table and is trailing Mercedes driver Hamilton by 14 points.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes finished fourth and fifth in the eventful race.