After retiring from F1 at the conclusion of last season, four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, has been spending quality time away from the racing limelight with his family.
On Wednesday, he revealed his return to the F1 cockpit, partnering up with ex-Red Bull teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, for an extraordinary event at the Nordschleife, scheduled for 9th September.
As part of the acclaimed 12-hour endurance race, the iconic F1 track is hosting the ‘Red Bull Formula Nurburgring.’ The event will bring together young talents and seasoned veterans, showcasing a range of vehicles including F1, NASCAR, and drift machines in demonstration runs.
Vettel is set to make a comeback in the RB7, the vehicle in which he dominated the 2011 F1 season. With this car, he claimed 18 poles out of 19 races and triumphed in 12 grands prix. To minimize emissions, the car will operate on e-fuel for the Nordschleife event.
Ricciardo, on the other hand, will be behind the wheel of the 2012 Red Bull RB8.
Expressing his excitement about his return to the Nurburgring, Vettel said, “The aura of the Nordschleife has always been compelling, even when we used to race on the GP track. I’m looking forward to the thrill of driving my RB7, powered by e-fuel, on the Nordschleife for a show run.”
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB7.
Photo by: Sutton Images
During his F1 career, Vettel developed a strong interest in environmental sustainability and consistently advocated for carbon-neutral fuels in historic racing machinery.
Vettel added, “F1 Flow is my passion. It’s crucial to demonstrate that racing cars can perform just as efficiently and swiftly on synthetic CO2-neutral fuel, and that’s not a future vision, it’s happening now!”
Last year, Vettel made a demonstration run in Nigel Mansell’s 1992 championship-winning Williams at the British Grand Prix using carbon-neutral fuels.
The upcoming event will mark the first time in ten years that F1 cars have run the 12.9-mile Nordschleife.
Michael Schumacher, the seven-time champion, was the last F1 driver to race around the track in a Mercedes F1 car at the 2013 Nurburgring 24-hour race. Prior to him, Nick Heidfeld drove a BMW-Sauber around the track in 2007.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sebastian Vettel Nordschleife return
Who is set to return to the Red Bull F1 cockpit for the Nordschleife event?
Four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, is set to return to the Red Bull F1 cockpit for a special event at the Nordschleife on 9th September.
Which car will Vettel be driving at the Nordschleife event?
Vettel will be driving the RB7, the car with which he dominated the 2011 F1 season.
What is special about the fuel that will be used in the RB7 for this event?
The RB7 will run on e-fuel, a form of carbon-neutral fuel, to help minimise emissions.
Who else will be participating in the Nordschleife event with Vettel?
Daniel Ricciardo, Vettel’s former Red Bull teammate, will also be participating in the Nordschleife event. He will be driving a Red Bull RB8 from 2012.
When was the last time F1 machinery was used on the Nordschleife track?
F1 machinery has not run on the 12.9-mile long Nordschleife for a decade. The last F1 run around the track was by seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in a Mercedes F1 car at the 2013 Nurburgring 24-hour race.
More about Sebastian Vettel Nordschleife return
- Sebastian Vettel’s F1 Career
- About Nordschleife
- Red Bull Racing History
- About Daniel Ricciardo
- Information on E-Fuels
- Michael Schumacher’s Legendary F1 Career
- Nurburgring 24-hour race
6 comments
Wow!! Vettel back in a red bull?!? That’s gonna be epic. Can’t wait for September 9…let’s go!!!
Synthetic CO2-neutral fuel in F1 cars, now that’s the future. Vettel leading the charge as always! Keep it up mate!
kudos to vettel, always putting the planet first. If more racers took a leaf out of his book, we’d be better off, amirite?
Nice to see the RB7 out on the track again, that car was a beast in 2011! Vettel is gonna tear up the Nordschleife!
Never thoght I’d see the day when Vettel and Ricciardo team up again. Should be a blast! btw e-fuel? interesting move by red bull…
Ricciardo in the RB8?? Now that’s something I gotta see. Mark your calendars, folks!