Daniel Ricciardo has left the Russian Grand Prix with another good haul of points after picking up a well-deserved fourth placed finish in a dramatic race.
 
Starting from fifth, Ricciardo continued his brilliant run of form since the summer-break, producing a very mature drive throughout the 53-lap race.
 
With teammate and pole-sitter Lando Norris battling it out for the lead ahead of him, Ricciardo was busy defending his position against a fast charging Lewis Hamilton.
 
The West Australian looked strong for the opening stint of the race and made it as high as second at one point before a slow pit stop undid his good early work.
 
Not deterred, the 33-year-old gradually worked his way through the field to put himself back inside the top five, however his tyres began to suffer from degradation and he slowly dropped back down the field to ninth with just a handful of laps to go. 
 
However, that's when the madness began as the rain made its way over the track, forcing teams and drivers into the pits for intermediates.
 
Riccardo was one of the first to pit and it was a move that paid dividends for the 2021 Italian Grand Prix winner as he was able to work his way past multiple drivers in a frantic finish.

“I think I got Alonso and Lewis back on lap one so it was net even in the end and then defended a bit, some good passes then Perez got me,” Ricciardo said post-race.

“So some good moments, some not good but keen to keep working on it.

“I think personally, I’m still eager to find the speed in the car.

“I don’t think it was as comfortable a weekend as Monza, certainly a bit more tricky and bit compromised with Friday so I don’t think we ever really got back on top of it, so try to keep working on it.”
 
Ahead of Ricciardo were three drivers who benefited significantly from the rain as Hamilton secured his 100th Formula 1 victory ahead of Max Verstappen, who also enjoyed a brilliant recovery drive having started from the rear of the grid.

Rounding out the podium just a couple seconds ahead of Ricciardo was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
 
Finishing behind the Australian were Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso and Norris, who had been leader for the majority of the race but became the biggest victim of the rain after making the wrong decision not to switch tyres as the rain fell.
 
Just two points now separates  Hamilton and Verstappen at the top of the standings, with six races to go in the 2021 FIA Formula 1 Championship.

The drivers will be back on track for the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on 11 October.