Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel will face a chaotic period before the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, as the four-time Formula One world champion has been selected by the Italian side to take part in a Pirelli tyre test in the week of the race.
The official Formula One tyre supplier requested an extra test in order to finalise plans for 2020, with Ferrari, Mercedes and Red bull all agreeing to take part in the event at the Circuit de Catalunya on October 7 and 8 – the Monday and Tuesday of race week in Suzuka.
While Mercedes’ third driver Esteban Ocon and Red Bull development talent Jake Dennis will take part, Scuderia Ferrari’s most experienced driver will be on the ground in Spain. With the coming weekend free of F1 activities, most other drivers will be able to travel to Japan at their leisure, but Vettel’s schedule will be more demanding.
“We’ve asked so many times different things of Pirelli, it was only our duty to do these tests when they ask us to go and test these latest evolutions,” Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies said in Sochi – “Yes, logistically it is complicated. Sebastian will drive there and at the very end of the test he will fly to Japan. We felt it was our duty towards everything we’re asking of Pirelli to support [them].”
Scuderia Ferrari have secured four pole positions and three victories from the last four races, with Sebastian taking the most recent win in Singapore. The German driver is a four-time winner at Suzuka from his Red Bull tenure, but Mercedes have won every race in Japan in the V6 Hybrid era.
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