Vettel delights Ferrari fans in Hockenheim

Sebastian Vettel was the star of the show on Sunday, as Ferrari’s Racing Days of Hockenheim event thrilled 7,000 fans at the famous German circuit. As well as several one-make series for Maranello machinery, the packed programme featured F1 demonstrations from the four-time world champion.

At the wheel of a four-year-old Ferrari F2012, Vettel performed a simulated Grand Prix start, before the Italian team’s pit crew carried out a few lightning-quick stops for the spectators in the stands.

Vettel then indulged in the obligatory burnouts and donuts, immersing his scarlet car in clouds of tyre smoke, much to the delight of those watching. After an adrenaline-loaded half hour, the German driver returned to the paddock where he signed autographs and shared pictures with fans.

The F2012 wasn’t the only Formula One car on show. Thanks to Ferrari’s F1 Clienti fleet, the red machines of the Scuderia’s Michael Schumacher era were also very much in evidence. Among the winning single-seaters racing at over 300 km/h were the F2002 and F2003-GA, plus the 248 F1 with which the great German came very close to winning an eighth world crown.

Schumacher was beaten to the title on that occasion by Fernando Alonso, who would also later race for Ferrari - and the Spaniard's F10 from 2010 and F150° Italia from 2011 also put on a great show at Hockenheim.

Vettel and Ferrari will next be on track for this weekend’s 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.