Boosted Horsepower: Highlights from Shanghai International Grand Prix

2018 Shanghai Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo clinched his first victory of the 2018 Formula 1 season and won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday thanks to Red Bull's supreme tyre tactics. Mercedes and Ferrari also took spots on the podium after Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen finished second and third, respectively, while standings leader Sebastian Vettel settled for eighth after a late spin caused by Max Verstappen.

Defending Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton couldn't add to his record as the most decorated winner in Chinese Grand Prix history and finished fourth at Shanghai International Circuit thanks to a Verstappen time penalty. Red Bull's pit team played their role in Sunday's victory and swapped their drivers on to the softs when called in during the race's latter stages, and it showed as Ricciardo and Verstappen excelled in the second half.

Formula 1 Standings (Points)

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari (54)

2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (45)

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes (40)

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull (37)

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (30)

6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren (22)

7. Niko Hulkenberg, Renault (22)

8. Max Verstappen, Red Bull (18)

9. Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso (12)

10. Kevin Magnussen, Haas (11)

Red Bull made the most of their stoppage as debris was cleared and capitalised by changing on to soft tyres, and Ferrari had further cause for concern after Bottas' fine restart gave him a cushion at the front of the race. Ricciardo pegged Ferrari back once again as he got the drop on Raikkonen at Turn 14 to climb into fifth, one place behind team-mate Verstappen and with better tyres preparing them for race's end.

It wasn't long before both Red Bulls, first Ricciardo and then Verstappen, nipped in front of Hamilton to push him back to fifth, reaping the rewards for their bold manoeuvres and benefiting from the earlier tyre switch. Tensions spiralled on the 43rd lap, however, as did the cars of Vettel and Verstappen, when the latter was overzealous in his attempts to keep up with his Red Bull team-mate and hit the former into a spin, via Movistar+: