Hungarian Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel and the two Red Bull drivers paid tribute to Jules Bianchi on the podium after the race.
Vettel dedicated Ferrari’s second win of the season to Bianchi, one of the team’s development drivers, who passed away last week following the injuries he suffered in Japan last year.
“An incredible day but I think this victory is for Jules,” said Vettel. “We know that it has been an incredibly tough week and it’s I think for all of us very, very difficult.”
“So this one is for him and especially all the people in the Ferrari, all the Ferrari fans, we knew that sooner or later he would have been part of our team, part of this family.”
Daniil Kvyat, who earned the first podium finish of his career with second place, said “this podium it goes first of all to Jules Bianchi and to his family.”
“We lost a great guy, a great driver. All my thoughts are with him right now but first podium is a great achievement and it feels great.”
“It’s been a very tough year, race, everything,” he added. “but I think as a team we all deserve this podium very much. I thank my team very much for this podium.”
Kvyat’s team mate Daniel Ricciardo, who took third place and his first podium finish of the season, said he owed the result to Bianchi.
“We were resilient today,” he said. “I left it all on the track. I put my heart into everything today and I think that’s the way Jules would have wanted it so I owe that race to him and I’m very grateful to be on the podium.”
“It feels like a victory, it’s been a long time, a long season for me so I feel that I gained some strength today, I owe this one to him.”
Patrick (@paeschli)
26th July 2015, 15:43
Vettel’s team radio was absolute class. It was so touching.
f12007v (@f1fan-2000)
26th July 2015, 15:44
+100
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
26th July 2015, 15:50
@paeschli Now tell me how is Vettel not a good champion for F1. He is absolute class.
BasCB (@bascb)
26th July 2015, 15:51
Agree with that
iFelix (@ifelix)
26th July 2015, 18:06
Indeed; I had tears in my eyes when he said it in French “this victory is for you”
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
26th July 2015, 19:59
So true!
Chris (@cgturbo)
27th July 2015, 0:38
I’ve never understood the hate for Vettel…
But today I applauded him for his racing and his words.
Fixy (@)
26th July 2015, 15:59
Ricciardo’s reaction to lifting the trophy absolutely did it for me. The circle before the race was too emotional, when everyone picked up their helmets and Jules’ one was left there for a minute before who I think was his brother picked it up I was in tears. Now we’ve properly waved goodbye to him I hope his family, whose strength to be there on the grid I could not believe, can go on, not like it was nine months ago but certainly better than the days since last October.
Bradley Downton (@bradley13)
26th July 2015, 16:21
This. This one hundred times over. This felt like a proper goodbye today, one that I really hope Jules would have enjoyed. I cannot think of a better tribute.
Rhys L
28th July 2015, 14:09
Was it just me or was Ricciardo getting stuck into that champagne? He took several big swigs before the podium interview. Still had a bit of a wobbly voice :-(
Bolide (@mim5)
26th July 2015, 17:06
ForzaJules!!
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
26th July 2015, 17:16
Meanwhile up there, Jules is smiling..
iFelix (@ifelix)
26th July 2015, 18:05
Amen
Ron (@rcorporon)
26th July 2015, 18:18
Quite classy. Had me teared up.
Fikri Harish (@)
26th July 2015, 18:56
We all needed that race didn’t we?
Sure could use a reminder why I should never give up on F1.
OmarR-Pepper - Vettel 41 wins!!! For Jules (@)
26th July 2015, 22:26
@fihar you are right. Races like this keep us on the edge of the seat. That is what we need. Even the mistakes the drivers made today show they were racing with their hearts at full rate. Amazing. The best tribute to a racer like Jules.
Sergey Martyn
27th July 2015, 19:26
Really the great case of the true sportmanship,