Sebastian Vettel makes his delayed 2022 bow in Formula One this weekend, after missing the opening two races with COVID-19.
The four-time world champion did not have an ideal start to his weekend, as his Aston Martin car broke down during the opening practice session.
Vettel then landed himself in a touch of trouble with the race stewards, after he hilariously jettisoned a marshal's scooter to make his way back to the pitlane at the end of the session.
Australian Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel drives back to pits on scooter after car breaks down
Aston Martin have struggled for pace in the opening weeks of the 2022 Formula One season. The Silverstone-based team sit a lowly ninth in the constructors' championship, with no points after the opening two rounds.
Sebastian Vettel made his return to the team this weekend in Melbourne, after a positive COVID test ruled him out of the opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Things did not go accordingly to plan, however, as he reported a loss of power in the closing stages of first practice at the Australian Grand Prix.
Vettel parked his car up on the side of the track, and the session came to an end shortly after. The cameras then cut back to Vettel, who was making his way back to the pits on a moped scooter he had somehow acquired from the marshals' post trackside.
This is the most iconic end to a practice session we can remember 😅#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/4jPlAZotzd
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2022
The image of Vettel cruising around the circuit on a scooter on his return to Formula One was an amusing end to the first session of the weekend at Albert Park.
The German driver waved to the crowd as he made his way back to the pitlane - where he promptly abandoned the moped.
Sebastian Vettel's moped was left stranded in the pit lane 🤣 pic.twitter.com/zqAFPycHxC
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 8, 2022
The journey around the track for Vettel landed him in a bit of trouble with the race stewards, however.
Vettel was summoned to the stewards after free practice two, for a breach of regulations. We would hazard a guess that this is the first time the phrase "unauthorised use of a scooter" has made it into an official FIA press release.
The FIA have summoned Vettel to the stewards for using a scooter on track. pic.twitter.com/42OjVU2tWA
— formularacers (@formularacers_) April 8, 2022
He was ultimately handed a €5,000 fine for the incident.
Vettel claimed Aston Martin's only podium of 2021 in last June's chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It looks like he and his teammate Lance Stroll will have their work cut out to claim any further trips to the rostrum in 2022 with the lack of pace in the Aston Martin car.
For Sebastian Vettel, the hope will be that his season is remembered for how well he can drive that Aston Martin, rather than how well he drove his jettisoned scooter on Friday in Melbourne.
SEE ALSO: Changes To Australian Grand Prix Track Should Make Racing Better Than Ever
