Sebastian Vettel’s collection
Sebastian Vettel’s garage is likely one of the most envied by Formula 1 enthusiasts. The four-time world champion already owns the Williams FW14B, the car with which Nigel Mansell dominated the competition in 1992, winning his first and only world title. Staying in the early ’90s, Sebastian Vettel also has the McLaren MP4/8, the car that saw Ayrton Senna drive for the last time with the Woking team in 1993.
Furthermore, the former Ferrari driver has completed demonstration laps in both models in recent years (including the last edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed), always using synthetic fuels as part of his sustainability project.
The dream of the F2004
At Goodwood, Sebastian Vettel mentioned his desire for his next acquisition. Specifically, the 36-year-old wants to follow his heart and aim for one of the most famous and successful Formula 1 cars not only in history but also driven by his idol, Michael Schumacher. The German, who spent a significant part of his career with Scuderia Ferrari, desires the F2004, the car that allowed the “Kaiser” to win his seventh and final world title quickly. However, the biggest challenge for the former Red Bull driver is the cost of this model. The F2004 holds the record for the most expensive modern Formula 1 car, as it was sold for $3,198,500 in 2005. It is reasonable to assume that its value has drastically increased over the years.
Sebastian Vettel stated: “There are always many very, very beautiful cars, but probably the one that I miss or feel that I miss is one of Michael’s cars, and the 2004 car stayed in my mind as the most beautiful car he raced. However, they are becoming increasingly expensive.”
From model cars to the real deal
While waiting for what could be his final decision, the former F1 driver reflected on his McLaren MP4/8 and explained the main reason behind his purchase: “My father was a big Senna fan, and I had a small model of the ’93 McLaren. It stayed in my room for a very, very long time. I always thought it was one of the most beautiful cars ever built in terms of size, appearance, and design. So, of course, it was great when I had the opportunity to make an offer and even more so to have the opportunity, like today, to showcase it.”
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McLaren vs. Williams: The differences
Additionally, Sebastian Vettel expressed his preference for the McLaren over the Adrian Newey-designed Williams FW14B, citing the main reasons: “The McLaren is a year newer, so it should be more sophisticated than the ’92 one. They are both incredible to drive compared to today’s cars. It’s very different; it’s very tight in both cars. I’m still amazed at how Mansell managed to fit in the car, not that he was fat, but he was big and strong at the time. I struggle to find space, so I can imagine it wasn’t an easy car for him to drive, but he was fast and he loved it, so I think that’s the answer to how he coped. The FW14B is very iconic, but I prefer the one from 1993 a little more. I haven’t driven it much, probably not enough, but it feels a bit more natural and perhaps a bit easier to adapt to.” – the former Ferrari man concluded.
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