Daniel Ricciardo is primed to fight for another podium finish in Monaco next round after securing a breakthrough third-place at Formula One’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Ricciardo crossed the line 49 seconds behind the all-conquering Mercedes of winner and new championship leader Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona on Sunday, with Nico Rosberg second.
It makes him just the fifth Australian to claim an F1 podium, alongside Sir Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Tim Schenken and his predecessor at Red Bull, Mark Webber.
It was an achievement he enjoyed briefly in Melbourne two months ago before being stripped of his season-opening result for breaching fuel-flow rules.
But now, it’s official.
“Hooley dooley!” the Perth-born driver said.
“It’s nice to stand back up on the podium – I actually still feel a bit awkward up there, but I’m sure I will get more comfortable.”
Australia now boasts a total of 99 grand prix podium finishes, taking it to ninth on the all-time tally – just one ahead of Argentina.
Ricciardo started Sunday’s race from third on the grid, only to lose it to Williams’ Valtteri Bottas heading into the first corner.
But a well-timed pitstop put him back into position and ahead of the Finn for the remainder of a rather uneventful GP.
“Good skills mate, and happy they are happy with the fuel gauge!” Webber tweeted.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Ricciardo’s performance and near-perfect round.
“Daniel is thoroughly deserving of his first official podium having been faultless all weekend,” Horner said.
Ricciardo sits just six championship points behind his once-dominant teammate Sebastian Vettel, who clawed his way back from 15th to finish fourth.
But things could change in a fortnight at the Monaco Grand Prix.
“At the moment it’s Mercedes who are battling between themselves, and they are doing a tremendous job,” Ricciardo said.
“It seems we have been the second best team this weekend … (so) maybe it will be a battle for that last place on the podium with me and Seb in Monaco.
“Monaco should be okay for us and hopefully we can get a bit closer to the Mercs there.
“It will be interesting and we will try as much as we can to catch them.”
