Soon after ten years F1 cars on the Nordschleife again

It was a real spectacle when Formula 1 used to visit the more than 22 kilometers long Nürburgring-Nordschleife for the German Grand Prix. Unfortunately, it was sometimes too much of a good thing, with 1976 as the low point. Then there was Niki Lauda’s horrible crash, which would scare him for life. After that the Nordschleife disappeared from the F1 calendar and since then we have to make do with the occasional demo run to get an idea of ​​how modern Formula 1 cars would fare. The last time that happened was more than ten years ago, when Michael Schumacher conquered ‘die Grüne Hölle’ with the Mercedes W02. In September, another German follows in his footsteps.

Not just any German, but four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. And not with just any car, but with the RB7. You read that right: Vettel returns behind the wheel at Red Bull for a while, in the car with which he was so successful in 2011. He took no fewer than 11 victories (and his second world title) with it. Its successor, the RB8, brought Vettel five victories and that car can also be admired on the Nordschleife. Behind the wheel is Daniel Ricciardo, currently a test and reserve driver at Red Bull. A special return behind a Red Bull steering wheel for those two, who were still teammates in 2014.

The time has come on September 9: Vettel and Ricciardo can conquer the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Will it result in a new lap record? Never say never. Michael Schumacher was not allowed to go wild ten years ago and the question is whether Red Bull takes a different approach. The absolute lap record is still in the hands of Timo Bernhard, who drove a modified Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO in 5.19 minutes over the 20 km long circuit. In 2007 BMW-Sauber estimated that driver Nick Heidfeld had a quiet lap in a modern F1 car at the time, that a time of 5.13 should be possible. With the RB7 that should work, you would say.