Formula 1

Vettel Excited About Visiting Scene of Maiden F1 Victory

1 Mins read

Three years after standing on the top step of the podium at Monza – an experience he will never forget –  Sebastian Vettel is looking forward to another Italian Grand Prix next weekend and returning once more to the scene of his first F1 victory.

The German, who now has seventeen wins and a world championship to his name, also says that Monza is one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar.

“Monza holds incredibly special memories for me, as it's where I scored my first-ever F1 win with Toro Rosso in 2008,” explains the reigning F1 champion. “That's something I will never forget – I had goosebumps standing on the podium with the fans below.

“The circuit is one of the most challenging of the season. It includes very long straights where we reach more than 320kph, making Monza the fastest track of the year. The track is not particularly physically demanding but, despite that, it is certainly not easy. Because of the long straights we drive with less rear wing than at other circuits, so the car can be more unstable; accelerating out of Parabolica is a balancing act and the smallest mistake could mean the car slipping into the gravel trap.”

The Red Bull team are yet to taste victory at Monza, but the Italian Grand Prix still remains one of the favourites of Mark Webber. “Monza is one of the best races of the year because the atmosphere is amazing with the Tifosi supporting Ferrari,” says the Australian. “There is an immense amount of history with the old banking still in place and the beautiful park where the Italian Grand Prix has been staged over the past 80 odd years.

“It's the shortest Grand Prix we take part in, as we can knock the 300 kilometre race distance out very fast because of the exceptional average speed. You need a car that's very quick on the straights and still manage to have sensible downforce for cornering. Unfortunately it's the last European race of the season. We were spoilt with how good the race unfolded in Spa; let's hope Monza is the same.”

1972 posts

About author
David is an occasional contributer to the site on matters related to Formula 1. You can follow him on twitter at @Dr_Bean.
Articles
Related posts
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix - TCF Driver of the Weekend

2 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag Driver of the Weekend is revealed for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Team Principals are Saying after the Race

7 Mins read
The ten Team Principals reflect on drivers performances at Albert Park during Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, a race that saw Ferrari claim their first win of 2024.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Drivers are Saying after the Race – Part 2

7 Mins read
Those who missed out on points in Australia reflect on their races, including Max Verstappen, who retired from a Grand Prix for the first time since the same event in 2022.