'Absolute superstar': Daniel Ricciardo's epic response to F1 mishap

Daniel Ricciardo’s wry response to an unfortunate penalty that threatened to ruin his race at the Russian Grand Prix has impressed Formula 1 fans and pundits.

The Australian driver drove his Renault to an impressive fifth place on Sunday night (AEST), where he started the race after qualifying - but a less than ideal start meant Ricciardo had his work cut out for him.

'NEVER SEEN THAT': F2 race abandoned after 'terrifying' crash

'NOT RESPONDING': Sad new details of ‘vegetative’ Schumacher

After threatening to put Renault on the podium for the first time since their 2016 return to F1 in the previous two races, Ricciardo’s hopes of once again challenging the leaders took a blow when he ran wide attempting to pass teammate Esteban Ocon at turn two.

Ricciardo’s wider line attracted a five-second time penalty from race stewards, with the extra time added on after the race.

F1 drivers are known for occasionally losing their cool over the application of penalties but Ricciardo was cool as a cucumber when his engineers radioed the news.

“I’ll just drive faster,” he said.

“That’s my bad, I’ll make up for it.”

And make up for it he did - though he was unable to push hard enough to catch Racing Point rival Sergio Perez in fourth place, Ricciardo easily had the pace to finish ten seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, effectively neutralising the penalty.

The latest in a string of strong results for Ricciardo and teammate Ocon saw Renault significantly close the gap to McLaren and Racing Point for third place in the constructor’s championship, but after the race many fans were quick to praise Ricciardo’s calm demeanour after the penalty.

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill said the Aussie’s response was ‘just brilliant’ on Twitter.

Ricciardo’s response opposite to champ’s F1 penalty anger

Valtteri Bottas won the Russian Grand Prix after his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton's race was ruined by penalties, in front of the largest crowd of the pandemic-hit season.

Hamilton had been looking to match Michael Schumacher's record of 91 wins in Formula One but had to settle for third behind Bottas and Max Verstappen.

Bottas built a sizeable lead over Verstappen with ease and cruised to his first win since the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was already under investigation by the stewards when he started the race from pole position.

Before the race he twice stopped to perform practice starts at the exit of the pit lane, rather than in the designated area.

That eventually earned him two five-second penalties, dropping him as low as 11th at one stage.

"Where's that in the rule book?" he asked the team, and called the situation "ridiculous."

Hamilton had asked Mercedes over the radio if he could perform the starts there, and was told he could.

"I need to go back and see what the rules are and what exactly I did wrong," the Briton told Sky Sports.

"I'm pretty sure no-one's got two five-second penalties for something so ridiculous before.

"I didn't put anyone in danger. I've done this at a million tracks over the years and never been questioned on it. So it is what it is."

With Australian Associated Press

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.