Vettel reunited with Purple Bull RB7 in Nordschleife demonstration run
Sebastian Vettel was reunited along with his 2011 title-winning Purple Bull RB7 this weekend forward of the annual 12 hour endurance race on the Nurburgring.
The four-time Formulation 1 world champion took to the complete 15.770-mile mixed Nordschleife and GP observe as a part of Purple Bull’s “Formulation Nurburgring” occasion alongside a bunch of different high-profile drivers, riders, and autos, together with David Coulthard in a 2012 Purple Bull RB8 which was initially set to be pushed by Daniel Ricciardo till the Australian was dominated out by harm.
Vettel drove RB7-01 on the run, one in every of 5 vehicles constructed by Purple Bull for the 2011 season – and one in every of 4 at present in service as a operating present automobile for Purple Bull promotional occasions. Chassis 01 was pushed by Mark Webber at that yr’s Monaco Grand Prix, however was not campaigned by Vettel himself, who drove chassis 03 for the primary 12 races of the season earlier than shifting to 05.
“The sound is nice… Luckily I nonetheless match within the seat,” Vettel stated in an Instagram Stay video broadcast after he’d examined the automobile on Friday forward of the occasion. “The texture for the automobile got here again immediately and it was improbable.
“Clearly the vehicles are a bit smaller than they’re now, however they’re additionally loads lighter and extra agile. A whole lot of good recollections … It’s the unique seat; it nonetheless suits. I’m very happy with that. I haven’t received fats but! It was numerous enjoyable.”
The automobile was being run on artificial, carbon-neutral gas beforehand showcased by Vettel on the 2022 British Grand Prix with a 1992 Williams FW14B that he owns, and on the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity this yr with the Williams and a 1993 McLaren MP4/8 additionally from Vettel’s personal assortment.
“I really feel like I’m in a time capsule. Numerous recollections got here again,” stated Vettel. “Every little thing suits collectively right here at present – together with the truth that we now use artificial, i.e. CO2-neutral gas.
“Motorsport is my nice ardour and I need to protect the game. Fuels could be produced synthetically and function a substitute. This might not be the one resolution, however it’s a part of the answer. It can be crucial that all of us understand that we’ve got to do one thing, and one of the best factor is: you don’t really feel any distinction within the automobile; it’s simply as a lot enjoyable.”
It was Vettel’s first time driving an RB7 since November 2014 when he drove the automobile in an illustration in Dubai, whereas his and Coulthard’s laps on the Nurburgring marked the primary time in a decade that fashionable Formulation 1 equipment has taken to the Nordschleife, which was final used for a Grand Prix in 1976.
Michael Schumacher made his closing public look driving an F1 automobile in 2013 when he took a 2011 W02 out forward of that yr’s 24h Nurburgring. In 2007, Nick Heidfeld drove a BMW Sauber F1.06 on the observe as effectively.
Additionally in attendance at Formulation Nurburgring was Gerhard Berger driving a 1995 Ferrari 412 T2; Ralf Schumacher within the Williams-BMW FW25 that he gained the 2003 European grand prix on the Nurburgring in, in addition to the next 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 sequence Toyota Camry and present AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda in a Honda NSX GT3.
