Ricciardo says "fifth was the maximum" from back of grid

Ricciardo suffered a turbo failure in qualifying at Silverstone which meant new engine components were required – and he started ahead only of Fernando Alonso's McLaren.

A charge through the field was initially hampered by a trip through the Luffield gravel trap.

But he was aided by late-race drama for Sebastian Vettel, which gifted him fifth place on the penultimate lap.

"The whole race was a fight," said Ricciardo. "I made a really good restart and got two cars by Turn 4.

"I was going for three and probably got over-optimistic on the outside of Grosjean, and he didn't give me much room, but I probably shouldn't have been there. Wasn't the smartest place for me to put the car.

"I probably damaged a bit of the floor, fell back to last again, but the whole race I was pushing and got back up to fifth – it was fun, good times!

"To get fifth, I couldn't ask for much more – I think in the end fifth was the maximum."

When asked how easy it had been to carve his way through, he replied: "It wasn't easy; once I came back through the field it wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. I had a fight on my hands all the way.

"Sebastian's problem gave me fifth, so 'danke Sebastian!'

"It was a crazy race, I went through the field and that was fun, just to have a battle the whole time."