SEPANG, Oct 2 — Daniel Ricciardo led a Red Bull one-two as Lewis Hamilton’s championship hopes went up in smoke at a dramatic, action-packed Malaysian Grand Prix today.

Hamilton was leading with 15 laps to go when his engine exploded. "No, no,” cried the Englishman as flames appeared at the back of his car, leaving Ricciardo leading teammate Max Verstappen.

Championship leader Nico Rosberg survived a first-bend spin involving Sebastian Vettel and a 10-second penalty to take third place and extend the gap over Mercedes teammate Hamilton to 23 points.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton of Britain leads Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo of Australia during the race in Sepang, October 2, 2016. — Reuters pic

Results from the Malaysian Grand Prix

1. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 310.408 km in 1hr 37min 12.776 sec (ave speed: 191.584 kph)

2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at 2.443 sec

3. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) at 25.516

4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at 28.785, 5. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) at 1min 01.582sec, 6. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) at 1:03.794, 7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) at 1:05.205, 8. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Force India) at 1:14.062, 9. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) at 1:21.816, 10. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) at 1:35.466, 11. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) at 1:38.878, 12. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) at 1 lap, 13. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) at 1 lap, 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap, 15. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Manor) at 1 lap, 16. Estéban Ocon (FRA/Manor) at 1 lap

Retirements:

1st lap Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari)

9th lap Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas)

18th lap Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Renault)

41st lap Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

41st lap Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Haas)

48th lap: Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber)

— AFP