- Hungarian GP - Race
Ricciardo feared early retirement
Race-winner Daniel Ricciardo says he feared his race was about to come to an end at mid-distance due to engine problems he was suffering.
Ricciardo secured his second win of the season with superb passing moves on Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in the closing stages, a victory made possibly by his long middle stint on the soft tyre. During that time Ricciardo complained to Red Bull about feeling surges in the engine and he says he thought all his hard work would all be for nothing.
"I had a scare in the middle of the race," Ricciardo said. "We had a few issues. We were down on power and had to be a bit crazy on the switches, I thought the race could have ended early. But it didn't and I'm very happy."
On lap 67 Ricciardo passed Hamilton around the outside of Turn 2 and then made it stick on the run up the hill, before diving down the inside of Alonso into Turn 1 the following lap, moves he said he knew he had to make stick despite being on fresher rubber.
"There was only one way to win and that was getting around them. Obviously we had the advantage of the fresher tyres and I knew that wouldn't make it easy. I attempted Lewis into Turn 2 the previous lap but locked up and went wide. I had a second crack at it but this time had more grip on the outside and that was that.
"When I got close enough to Fernando I knew I had to just go for it because being in that sandwich there, Lewis was still in DRS zone so I couldn't waste too much time. Once we got the lead there was a couple of laps to go and it feels good!"
The first safety car period catapulted Ricciardo into contention but he feared its second deployment had put paid to his chances.
"I knew the first safety car played into our hands, obviously we were handed the lead there. Then we looked alright and then we had the second safety car and then we pitted again for another set of tyres but obviously we lost the lead and I wasn't really sure what was going on."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
