

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen almost seemed honoured to join him for his very first podium appearance, and even Fernando Alonso paid a visit to parc ferme despite the disappointment of retiring from his home race. Helmut Marko, the head of Red Bull's young-driver program, was among the first to offer his congratulations, and he was soon joined by the great and good of modern-day Formula One.

Dabbing his eyes with a tissue as he headed for the crowd gathering beneath the podium, Jos Verstappen's voice trembled as he told Sky Sports' television coverage of his son's "unbelievable" accomplishment.
