Image source, Getty Images

That was a quite stunning race. As much drama and excitement in one afternoon as some entire seasons have delivered. OK I'm exaggerating, but not by much.

Clearly the incident with Vettel and Hamilton is going to dominate the headlines tonight and for some time to come, but the acrimony of all that should in no way overshadow the fact that this was a superb advert for F1, at the end of which we had perhaps the most gleeful podium I can remember.

It was a superb drive by Daniel Ricciardo and another reminder that he is a world champion in waiting if he can just get a car that will win races on a regular basis, while Valtteri Bottas's comeback drive was also a performance to savour.

And what of Lance Stroll? In just his eighth race, the Canadian teenager - already written off by so many critics - delivered a drive of skill and maturity beyond his years, just missing out on second place by the narrowest of margins.

Baku 2017 was a classic. Here's hoping the rest of the races in 2017 can be even half as good.

See you in Austria.

Kayleigh🌻: There's clearly only one way to solve the Ham/Vet drama.... RAP BATTLE!

David Edwards: Brake checked or not that was out of order from Vettel. It's road rage and not acceptable anywhere, not even in F1.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has given a testy interview to Sky Sports, in which he refused to point the finger of blame at any team members over Hamilton's head-rest issue.

"I don't know what happened," he said. "We haven't looked at it yet whether it came undone, broke or wasn't fixed in properly. I don't know what it was and I'm not going to blame anybody.

"This is a team that has won three world championships and I'm not going to blame anybody."

Sebastian Vettel, speaking to Channel 4: I have no doubt he brake-checked me. I didn't run into the back of him on purpose. There is then a chain reaction.

"I think it was very clear. In the end we are racing with men. If one of us gets a penalty, we both do. We are both grown up men. We want to race wheel to wheel.

"The championship battle is still respectful I don't have a problem with him, I think today's action was wrong.

"Every week in the Premier League you have refs blowing the whistle, and some players agree, some disagree. It's the same here".

Lewis Hamilton, speaking after the race to Channel 4: "I didn't brake check him at all. For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver, is a disgrace. I think he disgraced himself today.

"If he wants to prove he is a man we should do it out of the car, we should face to face.

"Imagine all the young kids watching today, seeing that kind of behaviour from a world champion.

"I know my boys will be devastated [about the head rest issue] but I think its important to take away the great performance throughout the weekend.

"We have to wipe the slate clean."

Dave Semeria: Perhaps someone should explain to Hamilton that just because a move is technically within the rules it doesn't make it sporting

Andrew K: Brilliant #AzerbaijanGP! Best race of the season by far! Ban #Vettel after that display!

Ben Berwick: Pretty dramatic race! In fact, one of the most absorbing for a while. Real tension between #LH44 and #SV5 now!

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

A loose head restraint cost Lewis Hamilton victory in a chaotic and incident-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel was penalised for driving into his title rival.

A remarkable race that featured three safety cars and several crashes, including clashes between team-mates, was won by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was last and lapped after the first lap, passed Williams driver Lance Stroll on the final straight as the 18-year-old Canadian scored his first podium in his eighth race after a mature drive.

The result was doubly bitter for Hamilton as he ended up finishing fifth, a place behind Ferrari's Vettel, and losing ground in the championship despite dominating the race until his unusual problem.

Read Andrew's building report here.

Frazer Shaw: Whether Hamilton brake checked Vettel or not does not excuse using your vehicle as a weapon for the second hit. Outrageous behaviour.

Ashley Wilkinson: If you can't get DQ'd for road rage and driving into the side of another driver - what can you get DQ'd for in F1? Lucky boy Vettel.

Steven Parsons: What kind of impression does that give to kids watching deliberately driving into someone is a 10 second penalty - disgraceful.

One thing to mention amid the mayhem is that Vettel has slightly increased his advantage over Hamilton in the drivers' standings after all that.

His P4 to Hamilton's P5 gets him two extra points that takes his advantage out to 14.

The delight of the podium is a long way removed from the dark moods of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, both of whom are still seething after their clash.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hamilton said: "I think it's just not driver conduct. It's dangerous driving and to get a 10-second penalty for that... I don't need to say anything else."

Also speaking to Sky, Vettel - who received a 10-second stop-go penalty for driving into Hamilton - said: "Nothing happened, did it? He brake checked me as well, so what do you expert?

"I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose but for sure it was not the right move. If I'm struggling, people at the back struggling even more, so I don't think it was necessary.

"I got damage, he risked damage. He's done something similar in China at the restart a couple of years ago so it's not the way to do it, I think.

"I passed him because he pitted it. After the incident, we were side by side, I raised my hand and told him, well I didn't say anything, but showed him that I wasn't happy with that."

Third-placed Lance Stroll of Williams on his first ever podium finish: "I am just lost for words. I cant quite realise what just happened. We just stayed out of trouble.

"I took it to the end and just lost out to Valtteri - that may have been one of the closest ends to a race ever!

"I would never have believed I would be here on the podium today!

"Motorsport - it's a love/hate relationship and the last few races have been tricky but it has all been worth it."

Second-placed Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes: "A crazy race, so much happening. I was a lap down at the beginning. I had to overtake everyone. It just shows you should never give up.

"I really enjoyed it. I just had fun. It was a shame Daniel was too far away at the end but in the circumstances it was a good result."

David Coulthard, conducting the podium interviews, has just unlaced Ricciardo's boot.

He wants the Aussie to break out his 'shoey' celebration.

Lance Stroll takes the first gulp of champers from Danny's boot, then Ricciardo himself has a go.

"You realise this is going to scar me for life," says Stroll, who seems absolutely giddy on that podium.

Valtteri Bottas is keeping his distance.

Today's race winner, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who lined up P10: "It was a crazy race. We knew podium was a possibility after the restart but did I think I would win today? Absolutely not. This is the race we expected last year and we got it today with all the craziness and safety cars.

"Yesterday was disappointing with the mistake but I said we had to stay out of trouble today and that's what we did. It was nice to get one car home and on the top step so thanks to the whole team."