Ricciardo delighted to capitalise

Editor

Daniel Ricciardo left the Belgian Grand Prix with an unexpected podium finish after “capitalising” on the re-start following a Safety Car.

The Red Bull driver started the race at Spa P5, behind the two Mercedes, two Ferraris and his team-mate Max Verstappen.

Dutchman Verstappen retired early on and then Kimi Raikkonen was given a penalty for not slowing down under the double yellow flags.

However, Ricciardo still found himself a long way off the podium places midway through the race, but then Safety Car was deployed on Lap 30 following contact between the Force Indias of Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez and it gave him a window of opportunity.

A scrap between Valtteri Bottas, Raikkonen and Ricciardo at the re-start saw the Mercedes driver going off the track and that gave Ricciardo the chance to pounce.

He took it and then eased his car home in third place, behind race winner Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

“Kimi had a penalty and so we got into fourth,” the Australian said.

“We had pretty good pace mid-race and then we got the Safety Car. I knew we had been given an opportunity so it was good to capitalise on that with Valtteri on the re-start.”