Daniel Ricciardo overcomes issues to land Monaco glory

Daniel Ricciardo outstayed his rivals to win the Monaco Grand Prix despite battling mechanical gremlins for most of the race.

Poleman Ricciardo, the 1-2 race favourite, made a clean start and opened a gap on Sebastian Vettel before a malfunction robbed him of 25 per cent of his Red Bull's power.

However, Vettel and the other chasers soon struggled with their tyres and Ricciardo held on as their challenges faded.

It was a sweet victory for the Aussie who missed out on a certain win in the principality two years ago when the team botched his pitstop.

Ricciardo, who also won in China this year, led home Vettel and championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who also have two wins apiece after six races of the season.

It was Ricciardo's seventh career win but his first in a race in which he started in the first three on the grid.

Max Verstappen, who started from the back in the other Red Bull, fought his way up to ninth and set a new lap record along the way.

Hamilton's championship lead was trimmed by three points by Vettel but he still holds a 14-point advantage over the German. The Mercedes driver is 1-2 to retain his title with Vettel a 2-1 chance.

Ricciardo's win moved him up to third in the standings, a further 24 points behind Vettel, and the Red Bull ace is 20-1 for a maiden championship success.

The circus moves on to Canada next. Hamilton has won the Montreal event for the last three years with his Mercedes well suited to the long straights there.

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