When the third Max Verstappen had resigned 14 laps before the finish due to a flat tire, Ricciardo was in the top six.
Many pilots used the subsequent safety car to stop in the pits, but Ricciardo decided to stay on the track and keep the older tires. The Australian thus restarted in third place, where he also finished the race.
“Two stages in three races! It all happened very quickly in the end, it was fun. It was bizarre. At the start I got to the fourth place and I felt that with the three in front (Mercedes and Verstappen drivers) it was all we could hope for, “said Ricciardo.
“(Sergio) But Pérez had a very good speed. He got in front of us during the pit stops. I don’t know what happened to Max, but it got us into a fight. (Pérez) stopped for soft tires during the safety car at the end, we kept our position. I was surprised he hit the pits. He was faster than us today, that’s true. If he stayed on the track, he would keep third place with the same car on the same tires. “
In the end, Ricciard’s third place was threatened by Kvjat, who drove for new tires, very quickly got to fourth place, but did not beat Ricciard third. “Kvjat appeared out of nowhere in the last laps, but it was fun!”
On the podium, this time he did not forget his traditional shoey celebration, ie drinking champagne from his own shoes. To Ricciard’s surprise, race winner Lewis Hamilton also asked him for champagne from his second shoe.
“I was about to enjoy a fresh shoey when I heard Lewis say ‘take off your other shoe.’ I didn’t believe it because he said on stage three years ago, ‘I’ll never do this. I will never drink it. You can offer it to me, but I will never do it. ‘ But he asked for it today, it surprised me. 2020 is a special year, it was good fun. “
Renault co-driver Esteban Ocon did not finish the race due to a clutch problem. To remove his car, a virtual safety car was announced, which Hamilton used to stop in the pits and moved to the front of the race, where he stayed until the finish.
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