Roads of Redemption | F1 | Toto Wolff

02 | I feel you!

From the moment I set foot back in the garage at Red Bull, orchestrated by fate—or as I like to think, by fate's tricks—I felt a chill that quickened my breath. It was the sensitivity inherent to new beginnings. Although I was already well acquainted with the parallel reality of working in Formula 1, returning to Red Bull was one of those surprises fate had in store, a trick it loves to play. This time, nothing was exactly new, but everything was starting in a completely opposite way from when I first stepped into a garage a few years ago.

The last two Grand Prix races made me question whether I should have stayed away for so long. Every time I thought about returning, I lacked the strength and confidence. Like everything in life, each person has their own recovery time. What might be as simple as changing clothes for some can be a long journey of rediscovery and, most importantly, finding a sense of belonging. A sense of worthiness. Every time I questioned the depth of my passion for speed and wondered if, in the end, it boiled down to one person, those doubts vanished as soon as I returned.

The interaction with Max and Checo is even more fascinating. Despite being ambiguously different, the two somehow complement each other. Max possesses an enviable focus and a disregard for others' opinions that even I envy. It doesn't matter what others say; what truly matters is the finish line and what needs to be done to cross it. Moreover, he has a giant heart behind the scenes. As they say, if we stop to observe our surroundings, the people around us can become a new school of teachings. Sometimes we are teaching, other times, learning.

Of all the people I interacted with over the past two weekends, reconnecting with "Sunshine" — as Nano liked to call Sebastian after the iconic 2010 radio exchange with Guillaume Rocquelin — was special. Alejandro always dreamed of hearing "Du bist Weltmeister" in German as well because, according to him, it sounded more impactful. Despite all the adrenaline of this Formula 1 championship finale, the highlight for me was seeing Fernando Alonso blame Vitaly Petrov for losing the championship. Alonso just couldn't handle it, and it was fun to see.

Vettel, even behind the scenes, has always been present in some way, through the highs and lows. Alejandro loved the somewhat punky vibe he had. He would love Max, too. The whole imposing presence. The rebelliousness that every good driver brings with them in their first years in F1. But I think Nano would love to know the Sebastian that emerged from the punky boy he once was.

As he saw me calling him sunshine, he smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hello, Valen. It's been a while since the last time I saw you in here," he said, pulling me into a warm, familiar hug.

"It has been too long," I replied, stepping back with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"I heard you didn't leave right after the race and I wanted to catch up with you," he said, his tone genuine. "I've been working on something important and thought you'd be the perfect person to talk to."

My interest piqued. "Really? What's going on?"

Checo, standing nearby, watched our exchange with a satisfied smile. "Looks like you two have a lot to discuss. I'll leave you to it," he said, giving me a supportive nod before walking back into the Paddock Club.

Sebastian and I continued our conversation, our ideas flowing effortlessly and planning to meet again soon to discuss the details further. "You know, Valen, I think this initiative could be something truly special. It's not just about the present, but about shaping the future of our sport." and continued, "I want to create a support system for drivers and team members, something that provides ongoing mental health resources and education. It's about changing the culture, making it okay to talk about these issues.", while smiling slightly, almost imperceptibly.