Yuki Tsunoda set to star alongside Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s Nürburgring Festival showrun

The Red Bull Formula Nürburgring Festival is an event involving a 12 hour race around the iconic German track.

Yuki Tsunoda, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo (Credits: The Independent and The Guardian)

AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda is set to join forces with Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel for a thrilling show event at the Nürburgring Nordschleife later this year. The event, known as the Red Bull Formula Nürburgring Festival, will take place after the summer break and includes show runs by the trio in their respective cars around the legendary circuit.

Tsunoda will participate in the festivities, driving the Honda NSX GT3 Evo and showcasing his skills alongside experienced drivers. The event is part of the larger program that incorporates the 12-hour race held at the iconic German track. Daniel Ricciardo will drive the iconic RB8 that won the nail-biting 2012 world championship.

When speaking to the media, the Japanese driver said, “I’ve never driven at the Nurburgring before, so I’m really looking forward to the event in September. I can’t wait to drive around it in my Honda NSX GT3 Evo, which is an incredible car and a proven race-winning machine at the highest level of GT3 competition. The Nordschleife is a legendary circuit, I just experienced it on the Gran Turismo video game and already enjoyed it a lot.”

In addition, Sebastian Vettel will be driving the awe-inspiring RB7, which propelled him to his second world championship in 2011, using synthetic, carbon-neutral E-fuel. This marks Vettel’s return to Red Bull after his departure nine years ago.

Max Verstappen has been ‘banned’ from participating in the event

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen (Credits: Daily Express)

According to recent reports, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has decided against allowing Max Verstappen to participate in the Formula Nürburgring event alongside Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Yuki Tsunoda. Red Bull is unwilling to risk their star man as he pursues his third consecutive world title.

At the Canadian GP, in a press conference with the media, Max Verstappen revealed why he was not allowed to join his fellow Red Bull drivers at Nordschleife. Primarily, it is due to the nature of the Dutchman, who would try to push it to the limits. He thus didn’t push for it at the risk of brewing a fight with the Red Bull leadership.

?| Yuki Tsunoda to join Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull's Formula Nürburgring event?

He will be driving a Honda MSX GT3 Evo!

?️"The Nordschleife is a legendary circuit, I just experienced it on the Gran Turismo videogame and already enjoyed it a lot." pic.twitter.com/Lzh0vLi5Bu
— RBR News ???? (@redbulletin) June 26, 2023

He said, “I wanted to do it, but I was not allowed by Helmut. He knew that I would try and go to the limits. I would have loved to do it. “I didn’t want to start unnecessary issues, I heard this thing was coming up, and Helmut was sitting at the table when it came up, and he said: ‘No, no, no, you’re not doing that!’“

Max Verstappen is cruising at the top of the drivers’ standings, boasting a 69-point advantage. It seems reasonable that Red Bull would not want to risk an accident by steering their golden boy away from his primary goal. Regardless, the trio of Vettel, Tsunoda, and Ricciardo have been chosen to represent the Bulls at the enthralling affair, commencing in September.