The ecstasy of victory for Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel certainly would not have imagined such a clear race. Starting 2nd on the grid, the German quickly took the lead, thanks in particular to an excellent two-stop offset strategy, facilitated by the premature intervention of the Safety Car. But the end was difficult, overwhelmed by the emotion of this impending victory.

He did not hide this moment on the podium, at Eddie Jordan’s microphone: “I couldn’t believe it, I fully realized in the last laps that I was sitting in a Ferrari and that I was going to win!” he declared. “A whole bunch of thoughts were running through my mind! I had to make a big effort to stay focused and it was only once I crossed the line that the relief came.”

The German driver did not forget in his first statements to thank the team for which he signed at the beginning of the season: « It’s the first time I’ve won for Ferrari, I am speechless. I am happy for the whole team who worked so hard, it’s an exceptional result ». He truly praises the spirit of his teammates: « The team welcomed me in the best way. I live in a positive atmosphere with all the staff, and with all the passionate fans who cheer us on. »

His race pace was impressive, with both soft and hard tires, the efficiency of his SF15-T even allowing him to save a pit stop compared to the Mercedes. « We were surprised on Friday when our medium pace was equivalent to the Mercedes. So I knew today that I had to preserve my tires for a long time while pushing as much as possible. We also had a very solid pace on hard tires, which gave me very good speed in the final laps. A big thank you to the engineers for this perfect strategy. »

A dream came true for Sebastian Vettel today. He doesn’t hesitate to make the connection with the glorious past of his idol Michael Schumacher: « When I was young, I saw Michael winning for this team. Now I’m winning in turn at the wheel of this red car, it’s indescribable. I think today will remain a special day. » Even on the verge of tears of joy, the four-time World Champion is not lacking in ambition: « I want to bring the title back to Maranello. »

For his part, Maurizio Arrivabene is in tune with his victorious driver: “I am very happy for all the members of the Scuderia and all the fans who have been waiting for this victory for a long time (editor’s note: since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix). We had set a goal of two victories this season, and we’ve already won one.” The team director emphasizes a collective effort: “Great race by our two drivers but also excellent work from the entire team, present here or in Maranello. This car is not the work of one man, it’s over 300 people who won today.”