BERLIN - Sebastian Vettel returned to the race track on Tuesday
ahead of the delayed start to his final Formula One season with
Ferrari.
Vettel and his team-mate Charles Leclerc were to drive at Ferrari's
Mugello test track for two days ahead of the first race of the F1
season, delayed by the coronavirus, in Austria on July 5.
Neither driver can use the current car for extra testing, as it is
prohibited by F1 regulations, but drove Ferrari's 2018 model.
World champion Lewis Hamilton recently tested for Mercedes in similar
circumstances.
The future of Vettel, 32, in F1 is still unclear after Ferrari
announced his coming departure. The viable possibilities to remain on
the grid from 2021 would appear to be narrowing.
How this season will look also remains uncertain after eight European
races to start the revised calendar. F1 hoped to then embark on its
usual round the world tour before concluding in Abu Dhabi in December
but as yet nothing is confirmed.
More European races could be added, easing travel organization for
teams amid the global pandemic, with speculation including a
first-ever F1 grand prix in Mugello.