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Vettel before leaving Formula 1? Racing legend lures with IndyCar series

2022-05-13T13:18:57.495Z


Vettel before leaving Formula 1? Racing legend lures with IndyCar series Created: 05/13/2022, 15:12 By: Marcus Giebel Does his future lie in the USA? Sebastian Vettel could have opened a door with his saying in Miami. © Jared C. Tilton/afp For Sebastian Vettel, Formula 1 is currently not subject to entertainment tax. It's not just because of his Aston Martin. Will a wish expressed in Miami com


Vettel before leaving Formula 1?

Racing legend lures with IndyCar series

Created: 05/13/2022, 15:12

By: Marcus Giebel

Does his future lie in the USA?

Sebastian Vettel could have opened a door with his saying in Miami.

© Jared C. Tilton/afp

For Sebastian Vettel, Formula 1 is currently not subject to entertainment tax.

It's not just because of his Aston Martin.

Will a wish expressed in Miami come true?

Munich – Formula 1 is now going full steam ahead.

Four back-to-back race weekends are scheduled for the racing circuit until the end of July, i.e. two consecutive Grands Prix within seven days.

Sure, the premier class of motorsport is expanding, with 23 World Championship races, the calendar included more races than ever before until the end for Russia because of the Ukraine war.

Drivers and teams don't have much time when only every third weekend is free.

Especially with the recent F1 premiere in Miami, the new marketers wanted to give their full-throttle product even more glitz and glamor.

The spectacle is paramount.

It's about images and emotions.

On temporary courses.

Motor sport sometimes falls short.

Vettel in Formula 1: Aston Martin driver dreams of racing on Road America

Sebastian Vettel, at the age of 34 one of the veterans in the field of drivers, did not find much to gain from the course around the stadium of the NFL team Miami Dolphins.

No wonder: the track hardly offered any chances of overtaking.

Run-off areas were once again in short supply, and safety car phases after accidents were inevitable.

Anything but pure racing.

The four-time world champion also declared during his stay under the Florida sun that he would rather ride on classic routes.

As an example, the Heppenheimer named Road America in Elkhart Lake, located in the far north of the USA not far from Lake Michigan.

A circuit opened in 1955 that skilfully combines fast and slow corners as well as long straights.

Vettel on Road America: IndyCar driver offers test - father and racing legend reacts

Vettel's wish by no means went unheeded.

Because the blogger Matt Archuleta, who is well connected in the US racing series IndyCar Series, took up the statement.

His tweet became the template for Graham Rahal, who has been driving cars in the IndyCar Series since 2008.

He wrote: "I'm going to double it down and say, Seb, if you ever want to test an IndyCar at Road America, we're going to make it happen.

It would be an honor to have you in our car.”

But that's not all, because the 33-year-old also brought his father Bobby Rahal into play.

He is a racing legend in the USA, has won the IndyCar championship three times and triumphed in the prestigious Indy500 in 1986.

The 69-year-old has long been a co-owner of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team.

In the direction of Vettel he wrote: "Seb, if you want, we have a deal." That was the renewed signal for Graham Rahal, he tweeted: "Oh boy, Bob has spoken.

Let's start."

Video: Vettel and Schumacher comment on the accident in Miami

Vettel test in IndyCar?

Hulkenberg was allowed in 2021 and then canceled

When asked about this positive reaction, Vettel kept the option open: “I have to look at it.

But it's a great track, so let's see.” The Hessian, who lives in Switzerland, will certainly have to be patient.

Because Bobby Rahal told

Motorsport.com

: "We don't have any options at the moment, but why not?" “.

At the same time, Bobby Rahal wonders whether such a successful Formula 1 driver would really switch to the IndyCar Series.

Although numerous racing drivers have already taken this path, there have not been any world champions for a long time.

Last year Nico Hülkenberg, reserve driver from Aston Martin and who stood in for Vettel twice at the beginning of the season, rejected a future in the USA despite a successful test.

Vettel change in IndyCar Series as an option?

Rahal brings additional car into play

Bobby Rahal at least emphasized: "Vettel is only in his mid-30s, so he still has many years to try out other types of racing." At the same time, he rolled out the red carpet: "But if the opportunity arose, someone like Seb for a few races in an additional car, we would certainly consider that.”

Apparently Vettel would only have to reply to the advances.

After all, he recently let it shine through that the current performance of his vehicle in Formula 1 does not exactly give him pure joy.

He has four points after three races, and Aston Martin is tenth out of eleven teams in the constructors' championship.

It seems to be true that the traditional brand's racing team has taken a step backwards under the new regulations.

A look says more than a thousand words: Sebastian Vettel looks pretty disillusioned.

© Hasan Bratic/dpa

Vettel on his future: "I'm not here to finish outside the top 10"

Speaking to the

Agence France Press (afp)

ahead of the disappointing Miami weekend, he also said of a career ending: "I haven't made a decision about my future yet, but I've been spoiled because I once rode at the front and I know that feels great.” And to put it more bluntly, “I didn't mind when I started, but finishing outside the top 10 isn't what I'm here for.

I want to win."

Just driving behind, regardless of the track characteristics, is definitely not to the liking of a former series champion who, after a mixed year in 2021, had opted for a fresh start under new auspices.

Only at the Grand Prix in Imola did Vettel make it clear on

ARD

: “Of course it must be clear that things are going in the right direction.

It should be noticeable that the car is improving and that I can also see that the team is progressing.”

Vettel back in the USA: Formula 1 will be in Texas in October

His contract with Aston Martin ends after this season.

There are already rumors that another former world champion, Fernando Alonso, could replace him - even if the Spaniard currently has significantly better chances of scoring points with Alpine, but may have to give way to the young Oscar Piastri from 2023.

Vettel would then probably run out of options in the premier class.

Which means that a trip to the IndyCar Series could certainly become more attractive.

Even if a timely test is difficult - given the busy racing calendar.

After all: At the end of October, Formula 1 will be back in the USA.

This time in Austin, Texas, on the Circuit of the Americas.

It's the start of a back-to-back weekend.

(mg)

Source: merkur

All sports articles on 2022-05-13

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