VETTEL, ETERNAL KART DRIVER

The 4 times F1 champion, Ferrari driver, back on track in Lonato at the wheel of a Vortex DDS-engined Tony Kart Racer 401. Proving he is still a kart racer to all intents and purposes.

If Sebastian Vettel were not an F1 driver, he would be a kart driver. No American races, DTM or Le Mans, just karting. Full stop. We are certain of it and as much was confirmed on a day of some time ago in Lonato (the new track).
Perhaps because all kart drivers look alike. Perhaps because Tony Kart Racing Team’s OMP suit is identical to those of the other team members, perhaps because of his boyish face (although he’s already the father of two girls), we don’t notice him. We just do not see him when he arrives, goes to the back of the tent (packed with drivers and karts) and starts working on his Tony Kart Racer 401.

Then, someone smarter than us begins to lurk outside the door of the tent close to where he’s working and only then do we realise that they are not queuing for a glass of water, but for an autograph or a photo with the four-time F1 world champion. Sebastian never holds back when the kart driver whose turn it is asks for a snap. However, inside the tent there are virtually no distractions and a lot of work.
He puts his hands on the carburetor, tightens the screws, asks Lorenz Aebi (of Ibea, the carburetor manufacturer) for information and talks to Roberto Robazzi (owner of OTK Kart Group), who provides him with the telemetry and other data requested: in short, it’s almost as if he’s there to prepare for Winter Cup.