Tag: Sebastian Vettel

Vettel comeback with Mercedes in 2025 a possibility, Wolff says

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Sebastian Vettel “is someone you can never discount” when it comes to potentially replacing Lewis Hamilton next year, despite preparations ramping up for the team to test Formula 2 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli. …

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Sebastian Vettel “is someone you can never discount” when it comes to potentially replacing Lewis Hamilton next year, despite preparations ramping up for the team to test Formula 2 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Vettel spoke about being tempted by a potential return to Formula 1 earlier this week, and admitted he has held discussions with Wolff about multiple things relating to his future plans, but not necessarily the Mercedes vacancy. After Hamilton stated “I would love for Seb to come back and I think it would be an amazing option for the team,” Wolff said the four-time world champion can’t be ruled out.

“Sebastian is someone that you can never discount,” Wolff said. “I think his track record is phenomenal and sometimes maybe taking a break is also good to re-evaluate what’s important for you and re-find your motivation.

“We haven’t taken a decision yet and it’s not something we plan to do in the next few weeks. I know that the driver market is very dynamic; some of the really good guys are about to sign for some of the other teams, and we want to continue to have these discussions and keep the options open.

“But at that stage I think it’s much too early for us to commit to a driver, whether very young or whether very experienced — I don’t want to say old, very experienced — [so] the next few months will give us more clues.”

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Wolff has whittled down a shortlist of drivers that he’s interested in, and currently one of the key considerations for Mercedes is its junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was fast-tracked to F2 this year. The Italian will test a W12 at the Red Bull Ring on April 16.

“The program of Kimi driving Formula 1 has been in place for a long time and hasn’t changed massively over the last few weeks,” Wolff said. “What we have done is added more days, but what you will see in the next few months has been in place whether or not he’s going to sit in a Formula 1 car next year.

“So we’re going to do a few of these days for him to get comfortable in an F1 car. He’s driving the 2021 car in Austria for the first time — we want to give him a feeling of what a really good car feels like before we put him in the ’22 [car]!

“Obviously he’s been our young boy for a long time with James [Vowles, Williams team principal] and we’re keen to see what he is able to do in a Formula 1 car. Ollie Bearman was refreshing to look at how competitive he was in Saudi Arabia. No free practice, high-speed complicated track, and he was right up there. So Kimi will be doing just fine.”

Former Formula 1 champion open to shocking comeback in 2025

This former Formula 1 champion is open to a shocking comeback for the 2025 season as the driver market begins to make noise.

[autotag]Sebastian Vettel[/autotag] retired from Formula 1 at the conclusion of the 2022 season as a four-time champion. Vettel won four titles from 2010 to 2013, driving for Red Bull before moving to Ferrari. Then, he joined Aston Martin for the final two years of his career. However, Vettel hasn’t ruled out a return to Formula 1 ahead of the 2025 season.

According to Vettel through Sky Sports, he is open to returning to Formula 1 in 2025. The former Aston Martin driver could have plenty of options, with Mercedes needing to replace Lewis Hamilton as he moves to Ferrari. Also, Red Bull could have an opening if Sergio Perez doesn’t return. The only downside of those two situations is whether Vettel would even be considered.

It would be amazing to see the former Formula 1 champion rejoin the sport in an extraordinary situation. Vettel’s last win came with Ferrari in 2019, but he did earn a podium finish as recently as the 2021 season. It remains to be seen if Vettel is considered for any rides, but returning to Formula 1 would be spectacular, as silly season is well underway.

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Vettel tempted by aspects of F1 return, coy on Mercedes link

Sebastian Vettel says he is tempted by aspects of a return to Formula 1 and has been speaking to Toto Wolff among other team bosses, but not only about vacant seats. Mercedes has an opening for 2025 with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari, and …

Sebastian Vettel says he is tempted by aspects of a return to Formula 1 and has been speaking to Toto Wolff among other team bosses, but not only about vacant seats.

Mercedes has an opening for 2025 with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari, and Vettel’s recent Porsche Hypercar test suggests he’s open to a return to top level racing. The 36-year-old has not raced significantly since retiring from F1 at the end of 2022 and says he is tempted by a return, but that he other areas of interest too.

“Yeah I am [tempted], and I’m not,” Vettel told Sky News. “I am obviously looking for lots of other things and there’s lots of other things that do also interest me outside of racing.

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“I didn’t know that!” the four-time world champion joked about the seat at Mercedes. “I don’t know… There are bits that do excite me [about a return] of course, when I think about it, but there are also bits that don’t. [I miss] the thrill, the speed, I think the competition mostly. Driving quick is not the only thing, but it’s really the competition.

“I’m talking to a lot of people, because I know them, but not very specifically. Obviously it does cross my mind, I do think about it, but it’s not the main thought. I have three kids at home, it’s busy every day, there’s lots of other thoughts that I have…

“I am speaking to Toto, I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, but about other things. There’s ideas that I have, events that I’m planning going forward so I did speak to a lot of other team principals as well, and not only about racing.”

And Vettel says a Le Mans drive with Porsche could be on the cards after his test, as he wanted to know what the 963 Hypercar felt like to drive.

“Maybe, I don’t know yet. I’ve been testing, I was curious. I wanted to see how it feels, it’s obviously a different discipline – it’s still racing but it’s a different car, different discipline. But yeah, there’s lots of things that excite me. Lots of different things, not necessarily just looking at something behind the wheel but also outside the car.”

Vettel to test a Porsche 963

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is entering new territory as he prepares to test a Porsche 963 in a 36-hour test conducted by Porsche Penske Motorsports at Motorland Aragon in Spain. “I’m looking forward to testing the Porsche …

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is entering new territory as he prepares to test a Porsche 963 in a 36-hour test conducted by Porsche Penske Motorsports at Motorland Aragon in Spain.

“I’m looking forward to testing the Porsche 963” said Vettel. “I’ve always followed other racing series and my curiosity for endurance events encouraged me to just give it a shot. Now I’m excited about the long run in Aragon and I’m looking forward to my time behind the wheel. It’ll definitely take an adjustment and some getting used to, but everyone in the team is very open and helps me.

“This will be a new experience for me. We will then see what happens next in this respect — at the moment there are no further plans for the future.”

The German driver has already prepared extensively for the test, having met the operations crew at the Porsche Penske Motorsport facility in Mannheim and completing an extended simulator session at Porsche Motorsport. He had a brief taste of the 963 on the in-house test track at the Weissach R&D Center. It proved to be an unusual experience for the 36-year old; after 299 F1 starts, it had been some time since Vettel had driven a racing car with a roof – previously only at the Race of Champions or turning demo laps.

Joining Vettel for the test next week at Aragon are Porsche factory drivers Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor. The endurance test serves as preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Porsche is aiming for a 20th overall victory.

“We’re delighted that Sebastian Vettel is interested in our Porsche 963,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “There was no question for us that we’d be thrilled to support his request for an opportunity to test and provide him with extensive preparation and plenty of time to drive our hybrid prototype — there’s no doubt we’ll learn a lot from his valuable feedback. Our 36-hour long run with Porsche Penske Motorsport and our works drivers at Motorland Aragón offers a perfect environment for this.”

The 963 and Porsche Penske Motorsport have had an excellent start to the 2024 season, winning both the opening round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar as well as the season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. PPM will enter three 963s at Le Mans, in addition to entries from privateer teams Hertz Team JOTA and Proton Competition.

Suzuka builds ‘Buzzin’ Corner’ in Vettel-led effort to highlight biodiversity

Turn 2 at Suzuka for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix has been renamed “Buzzin’ Corner” as part of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel’s efforts to raise awareness of biodiversity issues. Vettel was on hand to oversee the build of 10 insect …

Turn 2 at Suzuka for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix has been renamed “Buzzin’ Corner” as part of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel’s efforts to raise awareness of biodiversity issues.

Vettel was on hand to oversee the build of 10 insect enclosures on the inside of Turn 2, where Formula 1 has also approved the curbs being painted black and yellow to highlight the cause. Vettel was joined by all of the drivers on Thursday afternoon as well as multiple team principals to promote the effort.

“The project is called ‘Buzzin’ Corner, racing for biodiversity,’” Vettel said. “The idea is to make a buzz, make noise and create awareness around the topic, and especially the loss and decline of biodiversity.

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“Biodiversity describes the variety of species, like how many animals, plants, living organisms, bacteria — all sorts, every sort of life there is, but also within a certain species how much variety there is and how much of an ecosystem, different ecosystems that we have, like woodlands, forests, deserts, the arctic, the rainforest, all types of ecosystems.

“Why yellow and black? The bee I think is a great ambassador with its colors, with the pattern, because everybody has immediately a picture in their head. We used her to spread the message.

“We painted the curb, but we also built these huts to create more habitat and space for wild insects, wild bees –not honeybees because they’re not at risk, but all sorts of wild insects; also bugs, butterflies, everything that crawls, and to have some space. Mostly for nesting, to hibernate, to find some food, which is obviously a small impact here at the track but change starts in your head, and that’s what we’re trying to aim for.”

“Buzzin’ Corner” biodiversity project inside Suzuka’s Turn 2. Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

While prior to his retirement Vettel stated that he’d love to make a one-off return at Suzuka, he says he’s enjoying the new phase of his life having stopped racing.

“I’ve enjoyed this project. It’s obviously a small project, but I’ve enjoyed time so far this year — lots of ideas, lots of things I read up on. F1 was the center to my life for so long, but once you step out, you realize even more how big the rest of the world is, and in a way how small Formula 1 is.

“Not to take any excitement from the sport — it’s an amazing feeling to drive those cars. Of course I do miss that, but I also feel at some point it’s probably time for all of us to move on.”

Lewis Hamilton welcomed Vettel’s return to the paddock and his approach to using his voice to try and make a positive impact on matters outside the sport.

“It’s great, firstly, to have Seb back this weekend,” Hamilton said. “He sat down and told all the drivers of his plans. It was great to see that he’s found his purpose. To be honest, in the history of the sport, I don’t know any other driver who’s ever been so outspoken and shown real compassion for the world outside of this little world that we’re living in and it’s really great that he’s utilizing his platform.

“I just hope that with the things that he’s doing that he inspires the other drivers to do something along, maybe, in their own lane. But we all need to come together in this world to have a positive impact, to spread love, to spread compassion, to raise awareness for a lot of the problems.

“And there’s obviously millions of problems that we need to address, but biodiversity for sure, is… when he’s working with the bees here, raising awareness this weekend I think is a great way. It just sparks a bit of interest and raise awareness for people to understand exactly what and how important they are in terms of our ecosystem.”

Vettel reunited with Red Bull RB7 in Nordschleife demonstration run

Sebastian Vettel was reunited with his 2011 title-winning Red Bull RB7 this weekend ahead of the annual 12 hour endurance race at the Nurburgring. The four-time Formula 1 world champion took to the full 15.770-mile combined Nordschleife and GP track …

Sebastian Vettel was reunited with his 2011 title-winning Red Bull RB7 this weekend ahead of the annual 12 hour endurance race at the Nurburgring.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion took to the full 15.770-mile combined Nordschleife and GP track as part of Red Bull’s “Formula Nurburgring” event alongside a host of other high-profile drivers, riders, and vehicles, including David Coulthard in a 2012 Red Bull RB8 which was originally set to be driven by Daniel Ricciardo until the Australian was ruled out by injury.

Vettel drove RB7-01 on the run, one of five cars built by Red Bull for the 2011 season – and one of four currently in service as a running show car for Red Bull promotional events. Chassis 01 was driven by Mark Webber at that year’s Monaco Grand Prix, but was not campaigned by Vettel himself, who drove chassis 03 for the first 12 races of the season before moving to 05.

“The sound is great… Fortunately I still fit in the seat,” Vettel said in an Instagram Live video broadcast after he’d tested the car on Friday ahead of the event. “The feel for the car came back straight away and it was fantastic.

“Obviously the cars are a bit smaller than they are now, but they’re also a lot lighter and more agile. A lot of good memories … It’s the original seat; it still fits. I’m very proud of that. I haven’t got fat yet! It was a lot of fun.”

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The car was being run on synthetic, carbon-neutral fuel previously showcased by Vettel at the 2022 British Grand Prix with a 1992 Williams FW14B that he owns, and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year with the Williams and a 1993 McLaren MP4/8 also from Vettel’s own collection.

“I feel like I’m in a time capsule. Lots of memories came back,” said Vettel. “Everything fits together here today – including the fact that we now use synthetic, i.e. CO2-neutral fuel.

“Motorsport is my great passion and I want to preserve the sport. Fuels can be produced synthetically and serve as a substitute. This may not be the only solution, but it is part of the solution. It is important that we all realize that we have to do something, and the best thing is: you don’t feel any difference in the car; it’s just as much fun.”

It was Vettel’s first time driving an RB7 since November 2014 when he drove the car in a demonstration in Dubai, while his and Coulthard’s laps at the Nurburgring marked the first time in a decade that modern Formula 1 machinery has taken to the Nordschleife, which was last used for a Grand Prix in 1976.

Michael Schumacher made his final public appearance driving an F1 car in 2013 when he took a 2011 W02 out ahead of that year’s 24h Nurburgring. In 2007, Nick Heidfeld drove a BMW Sauber F1.06 on the track as well.

Also in attendance at Formula Nurburgring was Gerhard Berger driving a 1995 Ferrari 412 T2; Ralf Schumacher in the Williams-BMW FW25 that he won the 2003 European grand prix at the Nurburgring in, as well as the subsequent French GP; Mattias Lauda in a Ferrari 312 B3-74 raced by his father Niki in 1974; former Minardi F1 driver Patrick Friesacher in an ex-NASCAR Cup series Toyota Camry and current AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda in a Honda NSX GT3.

Vettel to drive e-fueled F1 cars at Goodwood Festival

Sebastian Vettel will return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, driving classic Formula 1 cars running on e-fuels. The four-time world champion will drive an ex-Nigel Mansell 1992 Williams FW14B and ex-Ayrton Senna 1993 McLaren MP4/8. …

Sebastian Vettel will return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, driving classic Formula 1 cars running on e-fuels.

The four-time world champion will drive an ex-Nigel Mansell 1992 Williams FW14B and ex-Ayrton Senna 1993 McLaren MP4/8. Both cars are part of Vettel’s personal collection.

“It’s great to be coming back to Goodwood after all these years,” said Vettel, who last visited Goodwood in 2012 while driving for Red Bull. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of some of my most memorable cars which will be running on sustainable fuel over the weekend.

“I’m a passionate racer and it’s important to me that we continue to enjoy driving iconic racing cars today and in the future, but that we do so in a responsible way.”

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Vettel previously drove the Williams at Silverstone ahead of last year’s British grand prix, where he launched his “Race without Trace’ alternative fuels campaign — one of several projects centered around sustainability that Vettel has worked on in recent years.

“I am enormously excited to welcome Sebastian back to Goodwood this summer,” said the Duke of Richmond. “I know our fans will be delighted to have an opportunity to celebrate his incredible career and to see him in action on the Hill.

“His attitude towards sourcing alternative fuels absolutely aligns with our plans across the event and the wider Estate to ensure we are shining a light on this important topic and protect motorsport for the next generation.”

Approximately 20% of the vehicles at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, set for July 13-16 at the British circuit, will run on alternative fuels, while the Festival’s sister event, the Goodwood Revival, will play host to the first-ever motor race powered entirely by synthetic fuel in September.

The Fordwater Trophy will feature a grid of 30 pre-1966 Porsche 911s to commemorate the car’s 60th anniversary, but in a first not just for Goodwood — which is celebrating 75 years of motorsport activity — but motorsport as a whole, the entire grid will be powered by e-fuels.

Despite aims to make 80 percent of its road car portfolio electrified by 2030 and its involvement in the all-electric Formula E series, Porsche has been a forerunner in the development of synthetic, or e-fuels. The company has already invested $100 million in the emissions-neutral technology, including a factory in Chile that produces the fuel.

Synthetic fuel is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, compressing that hydrogen, then adding carbon, which in time will come from CO2 captured from the atmosphere. The end result is a fuel that behaves pretty much identically to traditional gasoline, but while carbon dioxide is emitted when using e-fuels, that CO2 has already been captured, so in essence, it doesn’t have the same sort of impact.

Formula 1 is set to run on e-fuels from 2026 when the next round of engine regulations are introduced — an era which Porsche was set to be a part of until it shelved its plans following unsuccessful negotiations with Red Bull and McLaren.

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¡Le salió caro! Multan a Sebastian Vettel por curioso paseo en scooter

El piloto alemán aseguró que recibió el permiso para circular en la moto pero la FIA opina lo contrario y no dudó en multar al piloto

Una de las imágenes más curiosas de la jornada de este viernes en el Gran Premio de Australia fue el paseo de Sebastian Vettel a bordo de un scooter por la pista del circuito de Albert Park.

La curiosa escena sucedió cuando el Aston Martin del ex campeón del mundo presentó problemas y para regresar al pitlane el alemán tomó prestada la motocicleta de un oficial de pista para conducir de regreso.

Los aficionados reconocieron al piloto y el alemán comenzó a levantar la mano y saludar a los asistentes algo que infringió el reglamento de la FIA y por lo que Vettel tendrá que desembolsar 5 mil euros por la jugada.

El piloto alemán aseguró que recibió el permiso para circular en la moto pero la FIA opina lo contrario y no dudó en multar al piloto que no ha tenido un buen comienzo de temporada pues se ausentó las dos primeras pruebas por contagiarse de covid-19.

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Sebastian Vettel just took a very expensive lap in an Australian GP practice session and fans loved every minute of it

This is a wild way to end a practice session but we’re all here for it.

Normally, F1 practice sessions don’t end this way. But for Sebastian Vettel we had to make an exception.

Vettel took what wound up being a very expensive victory lap at the Australian Grand Prix after a practice session on Friday. Except for it wasn’t in his regular Aston Martin car — it was on a circuit marshal’s scooter.

Vettel’s regular car lost power during the session on Turn 10 of the Albert Park circuit. He needed to get back to the pit lane and paddock area, so he waited until the session was over and rode back on a scooter he borrowed from the marshal.

However, he was supposed to ride back on the road running around the circuit. Not the actual circuit. But, of course, that’s not what he did. And this was the result.

What. A. Moment. This is just so fun. And, man, does he have that wave down perfectly or what? What a moment.

Of course, this ended up costing Vettel €5,000. But hey, man. Totally worth it. He’s got it anyway. Fans absolutely loved this.

Sebastian Vettel se pronuncia: “no participaré en GP de Rusia”

La postura de la F1 sigue siendo la de observar los acontecimientos en Rusia y Ucrania para determinar si continúa o no la fecha del GP

El conflicto armado entre Rusia y Ucrania ya comenzó a tener ecos en el mundo del deporte y el piloto alemán de Aston Martin, Sebastian Vettel ya se pronunció al respecto asegurando que no participará en el GP de Rusia de este año.

“En mi opinión personal, obviamente me he despertado conmocionado después de las noticias de esta mañana. Creo que es horrible ver lo que está pasando. Si miras el calendario, tenemos una carrera programada en Rusia. Para mí, mi propia opinión es que no debería ir, no iré. Creo que está mal correr en ese país”, declaró Vettel.

El poseedor de cuatro campeonatos mundiales de pilotos de la Fórmula 1 y directivo de la Asociación de Pilotos de Grandes Premios (GPDA), se manifestó en contra de las vidas inocentes que se están perdiendo por un liderazgo “muy raro y loco” por lo que como dirigente de la GPDA promoverá una reunión con los pilotos ya que la fecha en el calendario para el GP de Rusia sigue marcada.

La postura de la F1 sigue siendo la de observar los acontecimientos en Rusia y Ucrania para determinar si continúa o no la fecha del gran premio pactada para el 25 de septiembre monitoreando muy de cerca los acontecimientos.

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