Daniel Ricciardo has recorded his best equal best result for Renault overnight after benefiting from a dramatic climax in the British Grand Prix.
For much of the 52-lap race, it was business as usual until the final three laps where the Motorsport Australia ambassador climbed the field to finish fourth place as Lewis Hamilton just managed to limp home win his seventh home Grand Prix.
Starting the race in eighth, a brilliant start from Ricciardo saw him instantly move up to sixth place where he found himself locked in a battle with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll for much of the race.
However after losing a place to the McLaren driver in the middle stage, the West Australian look destined to finish in seventh before the drama started with three laps to go as both Mercedes cars and Norris' teammate Carlos Sainz suffered punctured tyres.
While Sainz and Valtteri Bottas both dropped down the field, the latter falling out of the top 10, Hamilton crawled to the finish line on just three tyres to claim the victory over a fast charging Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
As a result of Sainz and Bottas’ punctures and a quick pass over Norris during the mayhem, Ricciardo continued to press as he finished just behind Leclerc to claim his best points finish since Monza last year.
“It was a crazy race at the end, and it feels really cool to take fourth place,” Ricciardo said post-race.
"We made a good start, jumped up to sixth and we showed decent pace. At the safety car restart I was close to Carlos (Sainz) but didn’t have enough and that allowed Lando (Norris) to have a run on me and I missed out there.
“That was a bit frustrating, but it came back to us at the end. The race really came alive and that was really good. We had some pace at the end and I was able to get Lando and then Carlos had a problem.
“I saw Charles [Leclerc] getting closer and maybe with a couple more laps we could have had a podium! We have another chance next week. We were assisted by some chaos, but we were definitely a top six car today and that’s pleasing.”
For race winner Hamilton, despite leading from start to finish, he was just relieved he was able to cross the line after the chaotic finish.
"Up until that last lap everything was relatively smooth sailing," Hamilton said.
"I heard that his (Bottas) tyre went and I was just looking at mine and everything seemed fine. The car was still turning no problem. Then those last few laps I started to back off and then just down the straight it just deflated.
"That was definitely a heart-in-the-mouth kind of feeling. I was just praying to get around and not be too slow. I nearly didn't get around the last few corners. Thank God we did."
The FIA Formula 1 World Championship stays at Silverstone for another round this weekend with the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.