There are stories you can't forget, glimpses of memories that, even long after the event, continue to give us goosebumps and glazed eyes: Sebastian Vettel's victory in Malaysia in 2015 is one of them; a timeless race that, 10 years ago, seemed like the beginning of a fairytale that many of us would have liked to live.
A start with good intentions
The starting grid of that race saw Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes in pole position, followed by Vettel; second row for Rosberg and Ricciardo. The British poleman's sprint was excellent, with Sebastian forced to tune in behind him. Right from the start the twists and turns began, with punctures forcing several drivers (including Raikkonen, who started eleventh) to go to the pits for an immediate stop.
On that Sunday Kuala Lumpur was invaded by tropical heat, forcing the teams to make two to three stops per driver due to the heavy graining on the compounds, which made life difficult for many, except for Vettel, who made those borderline conditions his stage.
A winning strategy aligned with an impeccable driver
Behind a great success, there is always a great team: the German's extraordinary performance was supported by an impeccable strategy from the Ferrari box, where decisions were under the careful supervision of the good Maurizio Arrivabene, then team principal of the Prancing Horse. Winning gamble, made possible by Vettel's impeccable tyre management. The German managed to make his stops at different times to his main rivals, the fearsome Mercedes, always finding himself with fresher compounds and maintaining a competitive pace throughout the race.
There was no match, no chance for the pack to catch up. At the halfway mark of the race, everything was already clear: Sebastian wanted that victory, he wanted that first success dressed in red at any cost. His drive behind the wheel of his SF15-T, his consistency on the lap, emanated it. The aces had lined up, there was nothing left to prove: everyone had to bow to his performance.
686 days later
Success at Ferrari had been missing since 2013, when Fernando Alonso won at the Spanish GP. Since then, the Cavallino suffered a major setback, which saw him far from the highest position on the podium. After 686 days, Sebastian Vettel broke expectations, bringing the Red Bull back to the top. An indescribable emotion on the part of the fans, who were moved by the feat achieved by the German. Adding to the emotion was Vettel, who, full of adrenalin, gave life to one of the most emotional team radios recorded in the history of F1.
‘Thank you very much guys, thank you and forza Ferrari’: an unforgettable eulogy, a speech that still creates goose bumps to this day. To all those who saw that race live, to those who did it from their bedroom or living room: try to close your eyes, take a breath, and return with your mind to that intense moment ten years ago; feel free to let yourself go, to relive with intensity a magical moment that we will jealously guard in our hearts. To the missed Champion in Red, thank you for everything Seb: Red Heart, forever.
Main cover photo www.ferrari.com
Inside photo www.ferrari.com
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