Ricciardo wins Malaysian GP, Rosberg finishes third

Red Bull's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday won the Malaysian Grand Prix, the 16th round of the Formula One World Championship, as Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton suffered engine failure.

Ricciardo's Dutch teammate Max Verstappen finished in second place and Mercedes' German Nico Rosberg came in the third spot, reports Efe.

"It's been pretty emotional, two years since the last win. I said we'd win one this year, and here we go," Ricciardo said.

He noted this victory was his payback for Monaco loss earlier in the year, when he finished second.

The 27-year-old, who celebrated his fourth victory of his entire Formula One career, won after Hamilton suffered engine failure, causing him to drop out while he was leading the race with 15 laps.

"I'm not really one for believing in a whole lot, but it went the other way in Monaco so I'll take this today. No hard feelings to Lewis," Ricciardo said, according to media outlets.

Ricciardo, who places third in the Formula One drivers' standings with 204 points, added that it was a very demanding match that left him exhausted.

"Exhausted, it is such a hot race here. It was a race of challenges. Lewis got the lead and had his problems," he said.

Hamilton suffered engine failure, causing him to drop out while he was leading the race with 15 laps. Hamilton, who had started from pole position, was leading the race ahead of the two Red Bull drivers when flames started pouring from his car on the hot Malaysian track.

"No! No!" the distraught driver screamed as he was forced to exit the race. Mercedes later confirmed that Hamilton had suffered an internal combustion engine failure.

Rosberg, who won the Singapore Grand Prix two weeks ago, remains on the top spot in the Formula One drivers' standings with 288 points -- 23 more than Hamilton and 84 ahead of Ricciardo, who is third in the championship.

Finnish Kimi Raikkonen, racing for Ferrari, came fourth at Sepang, ahead of his countryman Valtteri Bottas, driving with Williams Martini Racing, in fifth place.

Mexican Sergio Perez finished sixth, ahead of Spanish driver Fernando Alonso in seventh.

--IANS

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