SEPANG (MALAYSIA) - Sebastian Vettel struggled to control his emotions and his language as he realised a childhood dream by winning for Ferrari at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sebastian Vettel (right) celebrates on the podium with Ferrari chief mechanic Diego Ioverno after winning the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang on March 29, 2015
Vettel, who has a reputation for colourful phraseology, emerged stunned and teary from his red car after shocking dominant Mercedes to claim his first win with his new team.
After giving his famous crooked-finger salute on the victory podium and praising his team in Italian, he gave full rein to his repertoire of English swear-words.
"It is bloody hot," he told the crowd, before informing journalists: "I want (to) celebrate today. I want to get pissed, probably, tonight."
He added: "I was shitting myself, the last couple of laps."
Questionable language aside, it was a triumphant day for the German four-time world champion who had not topped the podium since his last win for Red Bull at the end of 2013.
He is now a winner again in just his second race with Ferrari and may now challenge Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who had been considered all but untouchable.
"It feels incredible. To see the guys (team) when I was on the podium looking down, it was an incredible atmosphere," he said.
"I've definitely missed not just the champagne but the top step in particular. It's great to come back after a tough season last year."
He added that it was even more special than his first F1 win, in Italy in 2008, as he has taken a small step towards emulating his idol, Ferrari great Michael Schumacher.
"I've been my entire life with Red Bull and celebrating that first win in Monza was unique," he said.
"This is just as unique, maybe a little bit better because it means just a little bit extra.
"It has been my dream when I grow up, Michael was my hero. For all of us, and I speak for all the kids at the go-kart track at that time in Germany, we were looking up to him."
Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene was also able to celebrate his first win in charge of the team, which has undergone a major shake-up over the past year.
He said Ferrari's strategy had been worked out only that morning and unfolded exactly as he planned. Kimi Raikkonen also went from 11th to fourth despite an early puncture.
"During the race I was thinking about the briefing of this morning, and I was looking at the discipline of the guys: the drivers, the engineers, team," he said.
"Everybody was working like a Swiss watch -- but in this case it was a perfect Italian watch."