Video: Sebastian Vettel donuts his Williams FW14B F1 car

16th July 2023

Simon Ostler

Sebastian Vettel has completed his first run on the Hill here at the 2023 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, and good grief was it the perfect start to his truncated weekend. We had to wait for it, but his first effort at entertaining us were a resounding success.

Not only was he driving a car that we all know and love, the iconic Williams FW14B, the 1992 F1 world championship winner, but he was doing so in a manner we could only have wished for. It’s also important to remember that both of Vettel’s cars this weekend, this and the McLaren MP4/8, are running on synthetic fuels as part of his Race without Trace initiative, so he’s putting on this electrifying show with total carbon neutrality.

He gave it plenty away from the line, spinning up the rear wheels an absolute treat in the run towards the first corner, utilising the entire range of that wonderous V10 engine to sing the perfect ‘90s F1 song.

He then goes on to complete possibly the most audacious donuts we’ve ever seen, in an extremely precious and delicate 30-year-old Formula 1 car. We weren’t expecting that level of performance first time out from Seb, but here is proof of what a fun-loving legend he is.

We’re loving having him here and we can’t wait to see what he has for us when he next makes it out onto the Hill.