Sunday: Red Bull places Ricciardo on the podium and Vettel in the top 5

Sebastian Vettel (No. 1) – 5th

After a mano a mano on the edge of regularity with Fernando Alonso, the world champion snatches the 5th place. He explains this duel of titans: « I felt very close to Fernando – maybe a bit too close! It got a little crazy when we both started complaining about each other going off track limits; I don’t think people care if the car is a little too left or right. I got the message that I had to respect the limits and that he was complaining, so I did the same. […] I think that maybe twice it was a bit too much at turn 6, but it was good to be able to make the overtake in the end. »

The German hoped to secure third place but a faulty strategy prevented it. He eagerly awaits his next national race.

Daniel Ricciardo (No. 3) – 3rd

« What a feeling! It’s the best third place I’ve ever had. I’m not usually ecstatic about a third place, but today, I really am, obviously to make up for yesterday and also because I didn’t think we had an impressive race car today, but we made good use of it, » declared the Australian driver after the race.

The end of the race with an unplanned one-stop strategy was a happy turn of events as he explains: « At one point, my engineer said something like “Okay, another four laps with these tires and you pit.” I said the pace seemed good, the tires weren’t deteriorating, so let’s try to stay on track or at least consider the fact of staying on track and he said “OK, we’ll check our options.” Then, later, he asked if I thought I could hold on until the finish, another 15 or 20 laps, and at that moment, I said “I think we can give it a shot.” And so yeah, it paid off! »