STORY OF THE DAY: Vettel’s First Ferrari Triumph

Sebastian Vettel won the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in the number 5 Ferrari SF15-T, securing his first victory for the Scuderia. He defeated Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in an important early-season breakthrough that ended Ferrari’s winless run stretching back to the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

Extreme heat and tyre degradation shaped the contest. Ferrari kept Vettel on track during an early safety-car period while both Mercedes drivers pitted, committing him to a carefully managed two-stop strategy. Vettel preserved his tyres, maintained competitive pace and passed Hamilton on track before completing an assured victory.

The SF15-T was Ferrari’s second car of the turbo-hybrid era and represented a substantial advance over the F14 T. Its 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit delivered improved performance, while revised rear packaging and aerodynamics gave the car better balance and more effective tyre use.

Born in Heppenheim, Germany, Vettel progressed through the Red Bull development system and became Formula One’s youngest World Champion in 2010. He won four consecutive titles with Red Bull before joining Ferrari in 2015, inspired in part by Michael Schumacher’s achievements. Sepang provided an emotional first success in red and confirmed his immediate importance to the team.