Sebastian Vettel is set to take to the Silverstone Circuit for a unique demo run in Nigel Mansell’s Williams FW14B ahead of the British Grand Prix. Vettel will get behind the wheel of the car that proved so dominant in Mansell's World Championship-winning 1992 campaign, a year in which the Briton won nine Grands Prix. The car was purchased by Vettel, and he will take it for a drive on track to celebrate 30 years since Mansell's title triumph. "It was my idea – it’s my car," Vettel told media, including RacingNews365.com . "I bought the car some years ago because it's 'red five' – that means a bit more than just a car from 30 years ago. "Obviously I've got the number five on my car, I won my championship with the red five – even if it was a little bit smaller on our car – I was wearing number five in karting quite a lot, and I have number five now, so there's a link there. "And I think the early 90s are the [earliest] memories I have from Formula 1 – the first memories are that car and the years after. So it was my idea and I thought exactly 30 years after it won the championship in 1992, and the British Grand Prix, it was a great idea."
Why Vettel's demo run will have a unique twist
However, Vettel is adding a more modern twist to his demo run, with the car set to run on sustainable fuels. F1 is set to use 100 per cent sustainable fuel from 2026 onwards. The four-time World Champion has become known for speaking out on environmental concerns, and he felt it was important to blend history with a look to the future. "I also thought we have to do it in a responsible way, so we're 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 responsible way," Vettel explained. "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 it on Sunday, it’s no different to how the car was 30 years ago, it will sound exactly the same, it will drive exactly the same way. "I will not try within a couple of laps to go to the absolute limit, but I will try to enjoy it which means go as fast as I feel comfortable with – bearing in mind it’s my car!
Vettel expecting to "have some fun"
Vettel is looking forward to having "a lot of fun" and hopes that fans will enjoy the "sound" of the car, but is keen to take a responsible approach when it comes to combining history with a modern take. "Motorsport is all our passion, it's what we grew up with," the Aston Martin driver added. "I think the cars I dreamt of as a child might be different to some of the other drivers, but it's important to find a way that we can do it responsibly as well to keep these cars and the history alive. "You can express culture in many ways: music, art, but our way of expressing ourselves is driving cars, racing cars, and it would be a shame if that was all to disappear, and I think it’s a way to keep it alive. "And looking forward, Formula 1 is headed in that direction in 2026 and I think it’s a great way to put it all together and have some fun."
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