Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2018 race results: Sebastian Vettel wins thriller; Daniel Ricciardo fifth

James Pavey

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Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2018 race results: Sebastian Vettel wins thriller; Daniel Ricciardo fifth image

Sebastian Vettel has won a thrilling British Grand Prix to extend his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton.

In one of the most intense, incident-riddled races of the season, Vettel led home a charging Hamilton, who finished second despite being spun on the first lap by Kimi Raikkonen.


Raikkonen finished third ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo.

Two safety car interventions mixed up strategy, with Mercedes leaving their drivers out as others pitted for fresh rubber.

MORE: British Grand Prix: Results, standings, how to watch, session times, form guide

Bottas gave it everything to hold off Vettel, who would have to make one of the passes of the season to regain the race lead.

Last-start winner Max Verstappen was in podium contention all race, but was forced to retire late after spinning with a handful of laps remaining.

VETTEL WINS THE START, HAMILTON SPINS

It was the start Hamilton feared - not only did the polesitter get swamped off the start, with Vettel and Bottas running past at the first turn, the hometown hero was sent to the back of the field after Raikkonen locked up into turn three and spun the Mercedes.


 

As Vettel skipped away to a big lead, with Bottas clinging on, the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo were sandwiching Raikkonen, who was slapped with a 10-second penalty - following the Hamilton incident - to be taken at his pit stop.


HAMILTON PUSHES IN FIGHTBACK

The start obviously didn't go to plan for Hamilton - who was complaining throughout his opening stint with fears of car damage - but quickly made his way towards the front, picking off car after car, lap after lap.


The first pit cycle saw Vettel retain his lead from Bottas, with Raikkonen taking his penalty and dropping behind Ricciardo in sixth.


Hamilton, though, stayed out and kept Ferrari guessing, before Bottas was given the all-clear to pass his teammate to continue to pursue Vettel.

The reigning world champion finally pitted on lap 26, and filed into sixth - but was easily the fastest on the circuit as Vettel managed his tyres and niggles of understeer.

SAFETY CAR CALLED FOR ERICSSON SHUNT

Hoping for a curveball, Red Bull pitted Ricciardo on lap 31 as the Australian caught the back of teammate Verstappen.

They got their curveball two laps later, as Marcus Ericsson lost the rear of his Sauber going into turn one and buried his car into the barrier.


 

It was a massive off, and with the closing pace of the famed Abbey corner too great, the safety car was called.

All bar Bottas and Hamilton pitted, with Vettel now the meat in the sandwich.

On the restart, Verstappen and Raikkonen battled for fourth, with the last-start race winner holding onto his place ahead of the 2007 world champion.


 

SAINZ-GROSJEAN ACCIDENT SPARKS MAYHEM

Shortly after, Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean made contact heading into the high-speed Copse turn, and with boths cars stranded deep in the sandtrap, another safety car was called.


 

On the restart, the next few laps at the front of the field were punctuated by Vettel attacking Bottas, Hamilton keeping a watching brief, and Verstappen holding off Raikkonen and Ricciardo.

On lap 43, Raikkonen muscled past Verstappen heading into Stowe. From there, it was Mercedes-Ferrari-Mercedes-Ferrari, all separated by what felt like inches.


 

All of a sudden, on lap 46, Verstappen lost it heading into Vale, handing fifth to Ricciardo. The Dutchman then pulled over on the Wellington straight and retired from the race.



Bottas was giving it everything to hold off Vettel, who bided his time and made one of the passes of the season to regain the race lead.


 

VETTEL WINS, EXTENDS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

As Bottas tumbled down the order, Hamilton was then Vettel's closest challenger as the race wound down.

In the end, Vettel would cross the line just over two seconds ahead of the local favourite, with Raikkonen leading home countryman Bottas and a fast-finishing Ricciardo. 

Nico Hulkenberg finished a strong sixth, ahead of Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen. Pierre Gasly completed the points-paying positions, but was handed a five-second post-race penalty for an incident with Sergio Perez on the penultimate lap. Perez was promoted to 10th, while Gasly dropped to 13th.


 

2018 BRITISH GRAND PRIX: RACE RESULTS

Position Driver Constructor Margin
1stSebastian VettelFerrari 
2ndLewis HamiltonMercedes+2.264
3rdKimi RaikkonenFerrari+3.652
4thValtteri BottasMercedes+8.893
5thDaniel RicciardoFerrari+9.500
6thNico HulkenbergRenault+28.220
7thEsteban OconForce India+29.930
8thFernando AlonsoMcLaren+31.115
9thKevin MagnussenHaas+33.188
10thSergio PerezToro Rosso+34.708
11thStoffel VandoorneForce India+35.774
12thLance StrollMcLaren+38.106
13thPierre GaslyWilliams+39.129
14thSergey SirotkinWilliams+48.113
 Max VerstappenRed BullDNF
 Carlos Sainz JrRenaultDNF
 Romain GrosjeanHaasDNF
 Marcus EricssonSauberDNF
 Charles LeclercSauberDNF
 Brendon HartleyToro RossoDNF

James Pavey