Daniel Ricciardo Ends Mercedes Dominance To Win Canadian Grand Prix
Wheels Come Off Mercedes As Ricciardo Wins In Canada
The Huffington Post UK
|
Daniel Ricciardo ended Mercedes dominance to claim a sensational maiden Formula One grand prix victory in Canada.
On yet another captivating day for the sport this season, the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was a classic, with rising Red Bull star Ricciardo ending Mercedes' run of six consecutive wins, and five straight one-twos.
Rosberg managed to nurse his car home into second place to open up a 22-point lead over team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to retire with a brake failure after 47 of the 70 laps.
It was a race that ended in dramatic fashion, with Ricciardo making his decisive move on Rosberg on lap 68, with the German's Mercedes struggling for power on the long straights.
Come the final lap, with Williams' Felipe Massa dicing with Sergio Perez in his Force India for fourth, the Brazilian ran into the back of the Mexican.
Open Image Modal
Ricciardo dashed Mercedes' hopes of a clean sweep in Canada
Whilst Perez rammed into one barrier to his right, Massa flew head-on into a tyre wall at turn one, almost collecting third-placed Sebastian Vettel on his way.
Mercifully, neither man was injured, and as the medical car rolled up to attend to them, Ricciardo went on to take the chequered flag by 4.2secs ahead of a much relieved Rosberg.
The German and Hamilton had again been vying for the lead for most of the race up until midway through when they both complained of power issues.
It was Hamilton who succumbed first, the loss of power seemingly affecting his brakes and sending him into retirement for the second time this season.
It appeared only a matter of time before Rosberg would also succumb, but somehow the 28-year-old kept his car out of trouble.
Although the field closed behind him, for many laps led by Perez on a one-stop strategy, it was 24-year-old Ricciardo who made the moves.
After being stuck behind Perez for some time, the Australian finally squeezed by, releasing him to reel in Rosberg and make the winning pass two laps from home.
Canadian Grand Prix
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(01 of11)
Open Image Modal
Winner of the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates on the podium following the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
Red Bull Racing's Australian driver and race winner Daniel Ricciardo celebrates with teammate Sebastian Vettel of Germany after winning the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014. Vettel took third place. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
Caterham's Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi walks away after abandoning the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014 during the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany (R) leads teammate Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) during the first laps of the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(05 of11)
Open Image Modal
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014 during the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-F1-CAN(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany (C) leads teammate Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) in the first turn at the start of the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on June 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Canadian F1 Grand Prix(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 08: Marcus Ericsson of Sweden and Caterham takes part in the Drivers Parade prior to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 8, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Canadian F1 Grand Prix(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 08: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari takes part in the Drivers Parade prior to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 8, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Canadian F1 Grand Prix(09 of11)
Open Image Modal
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 08: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP takes part in the Drivers Parade prior to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 8, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Canadian F1 Grand Prix(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 08: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing takes part in the Drivers Parade prior to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 8, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Canadian F1 Grand Prix(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 08: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP takes part in the Drivers Parade prior to the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 8, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)