Ricciardo gifted victory in Malaysia

With the race looking all but won for reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, an engine failure on lap 44 promoted Ricciardo and team-mate Max Verstappen to the top two steps of the podium.

Ricciardo had run in second all afternoon after a collision at the first corner involving Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg, eliminating the former Red Bull Racing man and sending the Mercedes driver to the back of the pack while somehow missing Verstappen.

A strategy change saw Verstappen leading the race when Hamilton and Ricciardo ran longer in their first stint, but as they realigned, the Red Bull pair were line of stern. And it made for fantastic viewing as Verstappen fought to overtake the Australian as the pair raced side-by-side for four corners before the Dutchman eventually yielded.

Their battle for second became the battle for the lead when Hamilton retired, but with both pitting for new tyres under the virtual safety car as the marshals removed the stricken Mercedes, Ricciardo had enough in his locker to keep out of Verstappen's reach to take his first win since the Belgian Grand Prix in 2014.