For Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc the end of the sports lockdown, which started after the pre-season testing sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya, will take place in a few days on the Fiorano circuit.
After more than three months of forced stop the two Scuderia drivers will return to driving a single-seater, which (as per regulation) must be from at least two seasons ago. The SF71H will therefore be back on track, and will be available to the two drivers for a whole day.
For Seb and Charles it represents an important opportunity to return to driving a real car, after so many weeks spent between simulators (more Charles thanSeb…) and physical training. However, it will not only be a test aimed at making the drivers ‘warm up’ in view of the start of the season (which will take place on 5 July) but also an opportunity to allow the team staff to evaluate the new anti-Covid procedures introduced by the FIA to regulate the behavior in the pits and pit-lane.
Unlike filming-days, the tests with the old cars are not subject to mileage limits, while the Pirelli tires available for this type of test are Pirelli ‘demo’, less performing than those used during race weekends.
For Sebastian Vettel the test will probably be the last chance to drive at the Fiorano circuit, a track on which in November 2014 he took his first steps behind the wheel of a Ferrari (F2012) on a cold autumn day. Six years later he will find a car with which he has lived memorable moments (5 victories) but also days to forget. We can bet that for Seb it will not be a test day like any other, just like it was back in 2014.
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