A BLUNDER with the waving of the chequered flag cost Daniel Ricciardo the fastest lap of the Canadian Grand Prix, but it did not affect the outcome as Sebastian Vettel claimed victory on Sunday.
The honour of flying the flag went to Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow but she was given the wrong instructions and waved it two laps too early.
It meant the race officially finished in 68 laps instead of 70, but the drivers continued at full pace until all 70 were completed.
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Ricciardo achieved the fastest lap on his final loop of the Montreal track, but it was ruled invalid, with the claims instead going to his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen.
The Duncraig dynamo finished fourth behind Vettel, Mercedes driver Valteri Bottas and Verstappen.
And while Ricciardo did not make the podium, he had the satisfaction of relegating reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton to fifth after overtaking him.
“We did what we could on the strategy. It felt good (to overtake Lewis). I’m happy we got through the weekend, we got points and we gained two points in the championship because we got Lewis,” he said.
“The championship is still a reality, I don’t know what Lewis’s issues were this weekend – this is normally a strong track for him and Mercedes, for us to take some points away that is a win and gives us encouragement.”
The drivers next head to Europe for the French Grand Prix on June 24 with Sebastian Vettel leading the championship and Ricciardo in fourth.
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