Sebastian Vettel praised his F1 rivals after taking his fourth consecutive championship victory in the Indian Grand Prix.
“I’m overwhelmed, I don’t know what to say” said Vettel on the podium following his title-clinching tenth win of the season.
“I think one of the best days of my life so far.
“When I was small, I always try to think back where you started and Formula One was so far away. To race against these drivers, to race in Formula One was so far away.
“There have been so many people that I have to thank along the way from go-karting, junior formula categories up to now, that have been teaching me a lot.
“I always try to listen and learn and it’s incredible to race some of the best drivers in the world that Formula One ever had. I think it’s a very strong field and to come out on top of them…”
Vettel thanked the Indian crowd for an “unbelievable reception” following his win. “It’s a shame we are not racing here next year,” he added.
The newly-crowned champion celebrated his victory in exuberant fashion by performing doughnuts in his car on the pit straight, then bowing in front of it. He said he hadn’t planned the celebration forehand:
“I haven’t really thought about it. Obviously Rocky [Guillaume Rocquelin] my engineer called for the usual procedure but then I said, yeah… ‘not this time’. So many people on the grandstand here, the main grandstand, I had to do it. Usually we are not allowed to but it felt so right at that time.”
Vettel said the championship campiagn had been harder than it looked and he especially enjoyed the cheers of the crowd after being booed at some races earlier this year.
“I want to say big thank you to the team, to all the people that were behind us,” said Vettel. “It was for sure not an easy even though people from the outside get the idea that we had it in our hands for quite a while, the last couple of races. I think it was a difficult one, all in all.”
“A very difficult one for me personally to receive boos, even though you haven’t done anything wrong but to overcome that and to give the right answer on the track and finally get the acceptance that I think we’re all looking for as racing drivers makes me very proud.”
2013 Indian Grand Prix
- Vettel takes fifth Driver of the Weekend win
- This year’s Indian Grand Prix voted best so far
- F1 still struggling to gain a foothold in India
- 2013 Indian Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- 2013 Indian Grand Prix team radio transcript
Image © Red Bull/Getty
Malik (@)
27th October 2013, 12:16
I am honored to watch one of F1 greatest drivers and a history maker. Thanks Sebastian Vettel :)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
27th October 2013, 12:24
Haters gonna hate, but this chap is just fantastic. Making history, doing it in style, and being such a funny guy outside the track too.
Hats off, Seb. Very well done !
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
27th October 2013, 12:25
This chap is just fantastic. Making history, doing it in style, and being such a funny guy outside the track too.
Hats off, Seb. Very well done !
Patrick (@paeschli)
27th October 2013, 12:26
Yep, history has been written today :)
It’s the first time I think I see a driver virtually making no errors a whole season long :O
OmarR-Pepper (@)
27th October 2013, 12:31
He let it out finally, crying for so big an achievement. He races as a monster but seems to me ge’s a great guy, still working on how to improve, all the time. Awesome!!!!!!!!!
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
27th October 2013, 12:42
bah, well done!
Nimba (@nimba)
29th October 2013, 2:13
I feel proud to be there at the Buddh International circuit for the crowning of Seb as the youngest ever 4 times consecutive winner of the F1 WDC . He has done a great job, like his compatriot and the most successful driver of all time, Michael Schumacher, to get into the tiniest of details on his car to make it perfect in every corner, every straight and every situation. He has performed way above his competition and to gain that extra edge over others… is simply phenomenal. He is a guiding light for young racers all over the world and makes them dream of success, despite young age, so cheers to that. He is a history maker and I feel elated to have witnessed history in the making.