Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel dealt testing blow after engine issue
- Bevan Youl
Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel’s pre-season testing programme has been dealt a blow after an “engine problem” meant they had to stop the car on track, leaving them unable to run until the afternoon.
Vettel had been scheduled to drive Wednesday for Ferrari but sat out due to illness, before returning to the track Thursday afternoon.
But his time in the SF1000 Friday morning was cut short after 90 minutes at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when he came to a stop at turn 12, bringing out the red flag for a duration of time as the car was recovered.
That's one ill SF1000
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 21, 2020
A slight hiccup for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel on Day Three of #F1Testing#F1 pic.twitter.com/RZTHVrtSiK
The Scuderia have revealed that it was an “engine problem” that meant the car had to be stopped, and that the exact problem was yet to be determined.
We had to stop due to an engine problem, whose exact cause we will investigate back in Maranello - we are now fitting a new engine so will be back on track in the afternoon. #essereFerrari#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/Bnw10PgK9B
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 21, 2020
The German will return to the track Friday afternoon with a new engine in the SF1000 to add to his 40 laps amassed in the morning.