Sebastian Vettel, David Coulthard, Yuki Tsunoda, and Ralf Schumacher Converge at the Nürburgring for a Special Red Bull Event

The Nürburgring Witnessed a Historic Return of Formula 1 Cars in Action

The Nürburgring recently experienced the exhilarating presence of Formula 1 cars on its famous track, marking a significant moment since Michael Schumacher’s demonstration run in 2013. Red Bull’s Formula Nürburgring celebration brought not one but two championship-winning cars to the 12.9-mile circuit.

Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, was reunited with his RB7, affectionately nicknamed “Kinky Kylie,” while former Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard took the wheel of Vettel’s former RB8.

Germany had been without Formula 1 action since the one-off return to the Nürburgring’s 5.1-kilometer GP-Strecke layout in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, the absence seemed to ignite the enthusiasm of the fans, with more than 60,000 spectators in attendance for the demonstration. While neither car set a lap time, the sight of modern Formula 1 cars on the iconic circuit was a rewarding experience in itself.

The Red Bull event featured not only their cars but also multiple classes of vehicles throughout the day, along with a lineup of prominent names to entertain the fans. Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri drove a Honda NSX GT3 Evo on his inaugural visit to the track.

Ralf Schumacher demonstrated his BMW-powered Williams FW25-07, and Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, took the wheel of Ford’s electric-powered 1,400 hp Supervan 4.2. A standout moment was witnessing Mathias Lauda drive his late father, Niki Lauda’s, Ferrari 312 B3-74.

Remarkably, both Formula 1 cars, along with several other racing machines, ran on e-fuels during the event. In the twilight years of his Formula 1 career, Vettel advocated for a more sustainable approach to racing, even encouraging Formula 1 to eliminate military flypasts during race build-ups and ensuring that passenger jets involved in such displays used sustainable fuels.

Vettel emphasized, “Motorsport is my great passion, and I want to keep the sport alive. Fuels can be produced synthetically and serve as a substitute fuel. 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.”