A few months ago, the world was on the edge of its seat for the next big thing in auto racing. On October 23rd, Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel was set to make his sportscar racing comeback at the 24 hour endurance race in WeatherTech Offshore Racing’s 600 horsepower class. It was a chance for the 35-year-old German to strut his stuff in front of the home crowd and for auto racing fans around the world to see the great things he’s capable of.
Sadly, Sebastian didn’t get to drive the #7 Ferrari at Texas Motor Speedway due to heavy rains in the area. So, while we waited for the dust to settle and the racetrack to dry out, the next big thing in auto racing was quickly overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic that was then ravaging the world. Now, as the auto racing season is coming to a close and the dust has started to settle, we’re left wondering: did Sebastian Vettel fulfill his potential as a driver? Was he able to showcase what makes him so special? Was he able to bring home the hardware for Ferrari?
To answer these questions, we must look back to early 2020, when Sebastian Vettel was one of Formula One’s most promising newcomers. The reigning two-time Formula One champion made his debut at the 2019 season opener in Melbourne, Australia and quickly displayed his dominance, leading every lap and finishing the race 42 minutes ahead of his closest rival. Although Sebastian’s time at Ferrari was hindered by poor performances in the early part of the season, he still managed to show everyone that he is one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history. He then went on to lead the next five races, including the prestigious Australian Grand Prix. Vettel has now started his seventh season with Ferrari and is looking to continue building on last year’s success. Unfortunately, despite Vettel’s talent and charisma, the Italian automaker has still not been able to get the best out of him. According to recent reports, Ferrari is considering replacing Sebastian with one of their junior drivers, which is a very surprising move. It seems that team principal, Louis Chapelle, does not trust Vettel, which could lead to more turmoil at the storied Italian sports car maker. Whatever the reason behind the potential driver switch, it is clear that Sebastian Vettel is no longer content with being a cog in Ferrari’s well-oiled machine. He wants to be the one who drives the train and sets the pace for the others to follow. The question is: will Ferrari give him the time of day?
Back To Reality
It’s been a tough 18 months, and it’s time for auto racing to take a break from the grind. We’re slowly but surely making our way back to normalcy, and it looks like motorsport fans will have to wait a little while longer to see Sebastian Vettel back in a Ferrari cockpit.
The COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the world in early 2020 not only put a halt to motorsport activities but also to any type of large-scale gatherings. The fear of getting sick with the novel coronavirus kept people away from the track, and it looked like motorsport was in for a significant downturn. But, as the world’s economy slowly tries to piece itself back together, people have started to crave excitement and adventures, and it appears that motorsport is one area that people are turning to for thrills.
Last month, Spa Race Organizer, Éric Bachelart, stated that the 24 hour race at the famed Belgian track would go ahead as planned on August 31st. While this might not seem like common sense, going from a nearly empty track to its full capacity for a 24 hour race is a logistical feat not many tracks can pull off. Teams will now have to go through meticulous safety measures and protocols to make sure everyone is up to date with the latest COVID guidelines before the big day arrives. But, once the safety measures are in place, it’s going to be a race for the fans.
2020 Was A Bust, But Will 2021 Bring Better Days?
It’s hard to put into words what happened in 2020. The worst pandemic in recent history put a stop to many things we take for granted, including auto racing. We were all expecting the coronavirus pandemic to decimate the world’s economies and, perhaps, even lead to a new world order. But, thanks in part to careful planning and strict social distancing, we were able to bounce back from the pandemic relatively quickly. The global economy took a significant hit but has now started to see some growth once more. And while the world looks a little different now compared to how it did a year ago, one thing remains the same: auto racing is still not a priority for corporate America.
Last year was disastrous for motorsport. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to all forms of large-scale gatherings, but it also created uncertainty and doubt about the future of motorsport itself. When the dust settled and the world was able to get back to work, it looked like a disaster had been averted, but it was only a matter of time before the economic consequences of the pandemic started to bite.
Even this year, with the world seemingly back to normal, economic uncertainty remains at an all-time high. The global economy is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and much of the world is still suffering from the aftershocks. As a result, many businesses, including automotive businesses, are still struggling to figure out how to proceed with the 21st century.
There’s no question that 2019 was a turbulent year for auto racing. The pandemic took its toll on track activity and forced many teams to downsize or even fold. The lack of competition and limited financial backing from automakers made it difficult for drivers to secure employment, and it seemed like the sport as we know it might never be the same. But, it was only a matter of time before the world’s top athletes and the teams that train them started to fight their way back. While it’s still early, it’s clear that motorsport is making a slow but steady comeback, and with it, so much else.