It was a Michael Schumacher-esque performance by Sebastian Vettel to win the Malaysian Grand Prix. He has come through his rough patch and begun the journey towards emulating Schumacher, his great hero.
I see the comparisons between Seb and Michael. On Sunday, he caught and passed both Mercedes – something no one managed to do all last season, except for technical issues – and was a master of his tyres. It was the drive of a four-time world champion.
I felt strangely moved seeing a Ferrari and Vettel up there on the podium. It is not that I was reminiscing about Michael as such, because I am a great believer that you have your time in F1. But on this day in history, it was a resounding victory for Ferrari, a great team who have gone through hard times, and for Seb, who proved to all the doubters that, when on form, he is a fantastic racing driver.
I have known Seb a long time. When I finished my career at Red Bull, he was incredibly respectful of the fact I was the older driver and won grands prix. He has always treated me that way, from when he was at Toro Rosso, when he was a one-time champion, a four-time champion, when he was going through his difficult period, and now at Ferrari.
After his many hours of press duties, we spoke to Seb on the BBC. He was looking at me and talking to me in the way he always has done.
Not everyone agrees, but I think he is fundamentally not a bad person. He gives his time, and really shared what it felt like to win for Ferrari. He is a communicator.
You can bet that had it been Kimi Raikkonen up there, he would have enjoyed the victory but you would have had some fairly short answers to questions. Seb was engaging, even though he probably wanted to run off and celebrate with the team.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel won the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday to end Mercedes’ long winning streak Formula One season and make 2015 look like a genuine contest between the two teams.
Vettel decided not to pit during a safety car before, while second-placed Lewis Hamilton and third placed Nico Rosberg did in their cars Mercedes, and clean air at the front of the field during that period marked the difference, as Vettel won by 8.5 seconds at the Sepang International Circuit.
Mercedes had won the previous eight races dating back to last season and was expected to dominate until 2015 after a double in the season opener in Australia, but only the second race of the season, Vettel’s victory indicated a potential championship fight ahead.
It was Ferrari’s first win since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, while Vettel – in just his second race with the team after leaving Red Bull – recorded his first win since the Brazilian Grand Prix that year.
After yelling on the radio team celebrated with joy that the crew and danced around his car waving the flag of the Prancing Horse. He was crying before taking the top step of the podium, and choked up as he spoke.
“I’m very, very happy and proud today, we beat them fair and square, which was a great achievement,” Vettel said.
“Today is a day very, very special and will always be a part of me.”
The Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, who suffered an early puncture, was fourth, ahead of Williams drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Then followed Toro Rosso rookie Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr., who was ahead of his Red Bull team principal, with Daniil Kvyat ninth and tenth Daniel Ricciardo.
