Breaking: Vettel congratulates Ricciardo on… Read more
Sebastian Vettel has once again taken to Instagram to reflect on a memorable moment from his Formula 1 career, this time paying tribute to his former Red Bull teammate, Daniel Ricciardo. The four-time world champion, who only joined social media in July 2022 when he announced his retirement from F1, has since been sharing a detailed and nostalgic journey through his career, starting from his early days in karting and progressing through the highlights of his time in the sport.
Vettel’s Instagram account has become a hub for fans to relive some of Formula 1’s iconic moments through his eyes. Among his posts are glimpses of his off-track initiatives such as the environmentally-focused ‘Buzzin Corner’ activation at the Japanese Grand Prix and his participation in the Race of Champions. However, a prominent feature of his profile has been his “throwback” series — posts that chronologically track the different phases of his motorsport career.
In his latest update, Vettel turned the spotlight on Ricciardo’s breakthrough Formula 1 victory at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix. The post comes as Vettel reaches the point in his retrospective series where Ricciardo had just become his teammate following Mark Webber’s departure from Red Bull. During that particular race in Montreal, Ricciardo capitalized on Mercedes’ reliability troubles to climb from sixth on the grid and eventually overtake Nico Rosberg to secure the win. It marked not only Ricciardo’s first career victory but also Red Bull’s first win of the season.
Vettel used his Instagram platform to celebrate this milestone in Ricciardo’s career, sharing a series of photos from that day — including a cheerful shot of him spraying Ricciardo with champagne during the podium celebrations. Alongside the images, Vettel included a heartfelt caption echoing his post-race comments from 2014. He wrote: “Congratulations to Daniel for his first win, which is very, very special, so I’m happy for him and happy for the team … It’s nice to be able to finally break through to get a win this year … We are here to keep pushing and to keep doing our best.”
The post is a clear reflection of the mutual respect and camaraderie between Vettel and Ricciardo, despite the competitive environment of Formula 1. That year, Ricciardo managed to outperform the four-time world champion, finishing third in the drivers’ standings after claiming two more wins in Hungary and Belgium. Vettel’s tribute not only acknowledges Ricciardo’s talent and achievement but also highlights his own graciousness and sportsmanship, offering fans another poignant moment from the sport’s rich history.
