Four-time Formula 1 champion, Sebastian Vettel, had a highly anticipated test in the Porsche Hypercar, and this is not just a publicity stunt. Porsche’s decision to have Vettel, who gained immense popularity during his time at Ferrari and Aston Martin after winning four F1 titles with Red Bull, driving one of the Porsche 963s is a clear public relations win. However, a simple demonstration could have achieved this. Instead, Vettel’s extensive mileage at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain was a serious endeavor for both Porsche’s pre-Le Mans 24 Hours testing program and Vettel himself.
Porsche had already announced that Vettel underwent rigorous simulator training and completed preparation laps at their test track in Weissach, which is only 1.57 miles long, much shorter than Aragon. The mileage accumulated by Vettel in Weissach would not compare to his run in Aragon, where he completed 118 laps. Porsche described his run as “two double stints,” indicating he did two separate runs with a full tank of fuel and a complete recharge.
This test was part of a continuous 36-hour test aiming to replicate the conditions of an endurance race, and Porsche reported that Vettel encountered no issues during his time in the car. Vettel expressed his satisfaction, stating that he already had a good feeling after seat adjustments, simulator sessions, and the run in Weissach. He also mentioned that driving the Porsche 963 on the track in Aragon was a fun experience, although he had to adapt to the differences of driving with a roof over his head, dealing with the heavier weight, and managing the tires.
According to the German publication Auto Bild, Vettel quickly matched the pace of Laurens Vanthoor, a long-time Porsche driver, during the test. Jonathan Diuguid, managing director of the Porsche Penske team responsible for the program, confirmed that Vettel got out of the car with a smile, indicating a positive outcome.
The scale and preparation for this test, along with its importance in Porsche’s preparations for the Le Mans race, suggest that Vettel’s participation had competitive prospects in mind. Diuguid emphasized the importance of the Aragon circuit for Porsche’s preparations, as it allowed them to run continuously for 36 hours and reach speeds of over 300 km/h, similar to what they would experience at the Circuit des 24 Heures.
Publicly, both Porsche and Vettel have been cautious not to hint at any competitive plans beyond this test. Vettel stressed that this experience was new to him and that there are no future plans at the moment. Porsche emphasized the value of Vettel’s feedback and experience in the test. However, it is evident that racing together was not ruled out, whether in the long term or potentially sooner.
Porsche has six entries in the Hypercar class at Le Mans this year, including three customer cars and three factory cars from Porsche Penske. While the customer car teams are confirmed, the #4 entry from Porsche Penske for the IMSA SportsCar Championship only has one of the three drivers confirmed. There are several other Porsche drivers, such as Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Dane Cameron, who could fill the remaining spots for Le Mans. In the end, Vettel may be favored over them.
It is worth noting that Porsche once had a German F1 driver at Le Mans while still active in F1. They put Nico Hulkenberg in 2015 as part of their third LMP1 car, and Hulkenberg’s team won the race. Although the Hypercar class is different from LMP1, the Porsche 963 had a successful start in 2024, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and achieving a 1-2-3 at the WEC opening in Qatar.
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Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton secured another thrilling victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix. With an incredible performance, Hamilton surpassed his competitors and crossed the finish line in first place. This victory brings him closer to the world title.
The race started with Hamilton starting from pole position. He had a good start and managed to maintain the lead in the early laps. However, Max Verstappen from Red Bull was close behind and pushing the Mercedes driver.
The battle between Hamilton and Verstappen was intense throughout the race. The two drivers took turns leading, with spectacular overtakes and risky maneuvers. It was a true display of skill and courage.
In the end, Hamilton managed to open a small gap over Verstappen and held onto the position until the end of the race. With this victory, he earns more points and gets closer to his seventh world title.
After the race, Hamilton expressed his happiness with the result and thanked the team for their hard work. He also praised Verstappen for his excellent performance and said that the battle between them was exciting.
With this victory, Hamilton remains the favorite to win the world title. However, there are still a few races left and anything can happen. Fans are eager to see the outcome of this thrilling Formula 1 season.
