Vettel to go green with Mansell's red five
Vettel to go green with Mansell's red five
Sebastian Vettel will give F1 a glimpse of the future when performing a demonstration run in a 30-year-old championship-winning car.
The four-time champion will drive the 1992 Williams FW14B prior to Sunday's British Grand Prix, a race Nigel Mansell won in the car en route to his title success that year.
Vettel, a self-confessed motor-racing enthusiast, bought the Williams in 2020.
But in a twist and in keeping in line with his push for more environmental awareness, the car will run on carbon-neutral fuels, four years before F1 plans to introduce the technology as part of its new power unit regulations.
Asked how the idea for the demo run came about, Vettel explained: "It was my idea, it is my car.
"I bought the car some years ago, I think four years ago because the red five is the car from '92, with the red five on it and it means a bit more than just a car from 30 years ago.
"Obviously, I have got the number five on my car, I won my first championship with the red five, even if it was a little bit smaller on our car.
"Still, it was a number five and I drove the number five in karting quite a lot and I am number five now.
"The early '90s is the sort of memories that I have from Formula 1, the first sort of memories, that car and the years after.
"So it was my idea, my initiative and I thought, 30 years after it won the championship but also won the British Grand Prix, it is a great idea."
Detailing the reasoning behind using the carbon-neutral fuels, Vettel added: "I also thought we had to do it in a responsible way.
"So I am using carbon-neutral fuels on Sunday to demonstrate that we can still hang on to our history and heritage and culture in motorsport but do it in a more responsible way.
"So I look forward to driving the car for the first time and to hearing the car. I am sure the people will share the joy."
Vettel demo run a show to keep F1 culture alive
Vettel has been a leading advocate for environmental awareness in recent times but his campaigning has led to claims of hypocrisy over his profession as a globetrotting F1 driver.
But the German has suggested his run on Sunday could pave the way for F1's culture to be saved.
On his expectations for the demonstration, the Aston Martin driver said: "I am expecting to have a lot of fun and I hope people can share that fun because I think it is an incredible car, the history of the car and the way it sounds, so yeah I am looking forward to it.
"In terms of the fuel, actually it was some effort to find the fuel but once we found it, it was actually very easy, it only took one shakedown to get on top of it.
"You will see on Sunday, it is no different to how it was 30 years ago, it will drive exactly the same, sound exactly the same.
"I will not try within a couple of laps to go to the absolute limit, but I will try to enjoy it and go as fast as I feel comfortable with, bearing in mind it is my car.
"It is maybe a bit different to when it is given - I shouldn't say that!"
On how the carbon-neutral fuel could help preserve F1's history, Vettel added: "It is great to demonstrate to people...motorsport is all our passions and what we grew up with.
"The cars I dreamt of as a child are different to some of the other drivers but it is important to find a way we can do it responsibly in the future, to keep these cars and the history alive.
"You can express culture in many ways, music and arts, but our culture and way of expressing ourselves is driving cars, racing cars and it would be a shame if that was all to disappear.
"It is a way to keep it alive, and looking forward, F1 is going in that direction for 2026 - could be sooner but it is what it is for many reasons.
"It is a great way to put it all together and have some fun."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- Yesterday 22:57
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 21:57
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- Yesterday 20:57
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
British Grand Prix fate sealed in MASSIVE F1 announcement
F1 British Grand Prix 2024: Full guide and ticket details for Silverstone spectacular
Brad Pitt's F1 blockbuster film hits SETBACK after British GP filming
Wolff DEMANDS 'no stone unturned' at Mercedes to stop Red Bull dominance
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860