Christian Horner says Red Bull experienced “every emotion you could imagine” in a manic Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Daniel Ricciardo snatched a stunning victory.
Ricciardo started the race 10th after crashing in Q3 on Saturday and had fallen to 16th after being forced into an early pit-stop to clear debris from his brake ducts.
The Aussie had climbed to fifth before the red flag and grabbed third at the restart with a brave lunge into the first corner.
With Lewis Hamilton made to stop to rectify a loose headrest and Sebastian Vettel penalised, Ricciardo was gifted the lead and promptly cruised home for a fifth Formula 1 victory.
“It shows in motor racing anything can happen,” team principal Horner told Sky Sports F1. “We were totally depressed after the first quarter fo the race. Daniel had got a lot of debris from the early shenanigans.
“Daniel’s race then began to come alive. He was making great progress, great restarts.
“We were a little disappointed by the red flag as it neutralised the race but he had a great restart, passed the two Williams and took advantage of the shenanigans between Lewis and Seb.
“He nailed it. He was very consistent over those final 20 laps. He found a great rhythm and was able to bring it home and close the race out.
“I think I aged about 10 years. There was every emotion you could imagine in that race.”
Ricciardo’s team-mate Max Verstappen was once again plagued by unreliability, with his race cut short by engine problems when he was running in fourth.
Horner, though, has assured Verstappen that his fortunes will improve and is confident that a “big race” is on the horizon for the beleaguered Dutchman.
“Max will be impatient but he’s had great pace and can see the car getting stronger,” he said. “Luck evens itself out. Daniel has had four podiums and a race win but I’m sure a big race is around the corner for Max.”
