Vettel’s lap is the first time an F1 car has tackled the Nordschleife since Schumacher in 2013.
While most F1 fans might be a bit bored already from Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing’s unparalleled dominance at every track this season, there is nevertheless no denying that the motorsports outfit still knows how to put on a good show. The most recent (and extravagant) of which happened just this past weekend at the Red Bull Formula Nurburgring, and was highlighted by a certain Sebastian Vettel taking his 2011 championship-winning RB7 F1 car for a lap round the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
And perhaps anticipating that some might be bored of seeing only one F1 car out on the hallowed 20.8 km circuit, Red Bull also sat David Coulthard in the cockpit of Vettel’s 2012 RB8 F1 car to go out alongside the 4-time F1 world champion for the lap around the ‘ring. A lap that you can watch in all its glory here, and I do whole-heartedly advise having headphones on for this one.
Over 60,000 attendees had camped round the track to witness live the first time since 2013 an F1 car being lapped the green hell, not to mention the first time since 1976 German GP that more than one F1 car has been round the Nordschleife at the same time. Though while on the topic of that infamous race where Niki Lauda would unfortunately gain his burn scars, Red Bull Racing had still somehow decided that it was a good idea to also send Matthias Lauda out for a lap round the ‘ring on that day, in his dad’s Ferrari 312 B3-74 no less too.
The Ferrari wasn’t the only non-Red Bull car to be out on track that day however, as Ralf Schumacher was also invited to take his Williams FW25-07 for a lap. Other notable drivers who were given a chance round the Nordschleife during the event included Jos Verstappen, who was behind the wheel of a Ford SuperVan 4.2; and current Alpha Tauri F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, who went round the ring for his first time in a Honda NSX GT3 Evo.
Speaking of his maiden lap around the track, Tsunoda said: “I can’t compare this track to anything else – it goes through the mountains, up and down, lots of tight sections and once you get on the grass, the wall is there. I have driven it before only on a simulator but would love to have competitive race here – it would be an unforgettable experience.”
Despite this event being predominantly a petrolhead paradise, most of the cars lapping the track didn’t actually consume any jungle juice at all, but instead were powered by carbon-neutral synthetic fuels. This is likely an initiative spearheaded by Vettel, who in his last years of Formula 1 was an avid advocate for a more environmentally sustainable way of racing.
“Motorsport is my great passion and I want to keep the sport alive. Fuels can be produced synthetically and serve as a substitute fuel,” said Vettel regarding the use of e-fuels. “It is important that we all become aware that we must do something. And the great thing is – you don’t feel any difference in the car, it’s just as much fun driving it on synthetic fuel.”
