• Canadian GP - Race

Ricciardo 'shocked' by maiden victory

ESPN Staff
June 8, 2014 « Newey to step back from F1 role with new Red Bull contract | 'Qualifying laps' earn Rosberg second »
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Daniel Ricciardo admits he only believed a maiden career win was possible 20 laps from the finish as he overcame Sergio Perez and Nico Rosberg in a thrilling finale in Canada.

In the early stages of the race it looked like Williams and Red Bull were in a battle for the final spot on the podium but both Mercedes drivers soon encountered problems, meaning the chasing pack suddenly had a chance of victory. Ricciardo struggled to get past Perez in second until the penultimate lap, diving around the outside into Turn 1 and using the grass to make the move stick, before passing Rosberg in the DRS zone later that lap.

On the radio after the race Ricciardo simply said "wow" when Red Bull congratulated him on his win, something which still had not sunk in on the podium.

"I'm still a bit in shock," Ricciardo said. "Thanks everyone, this is ridiculous! Lots of Aussie flags too, it's nice. The race really came to life in the last 15, 20 laps, we saw Hamilton had a problem and saw Rosberg was slow on the straights. It's a great feeling right now, I'm really grateful for this."

For a time it seemed like Perez was going to keep the limping Rosberg safe out in front, but Ricciardo admits patience was the key to passing him when it mattered.

"I was really struggling to get past Perez, they had a pretty good car down the straights and he was holding me off well in the corners. We finally got a run out of the last chicane and made a nice move into Turn 1 and then set my sights on Nico and then a couple of laps to go just found myself in the right spot to use the DRS."

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