Ferrari engine issue curtails Vettel’s F1 testing running

Ferrari has confirmed an engine issue caused Sebastian Vettel’s stoppage on the morning of the third and final day of the opening 2020 Formula 1 pre-season test.

Vettel ground to a halt at Turn 12 as his Ferrari appeared to lose power entering the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s final sector, bringing out the first red flag of the day.

After Vettel’s car was returned to the garage on the back of a flatbed truck, Ferrari revealed an unspecified engine problem had been to blame.

Ferrari said Vettel would not run again until the afternoon session as the team carries out a power unit installation change, with the Scuderia investigating the issue back at its Maranello headquarters.

“We had to stop due to an engine problem, whose exact cause we will investigate back in Maranello,” a Ferrari statement read.

“We are now fitting a new engine so will be back on track in the afternoon.”

It marks a blow to Vettel’s already truncated start to pre-season testing, after the German was missed the opening day at Barcelona due to illness, with teammate Charles Leclerc acting as stand-in.

Vettel managed 40 laps prior to his stoppage, meaning he has completed 113 laps in total so far. He is scheduled to round out the Scuderia's first test running on Friday afternoon. 

Ferrari has racked up 294 laps throughout the opening three days of testing, 100 fewer than the reigning champions Mercedes. 

That's one ill SF1000

A slight hiccup for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel on Day Three of #F1Testing#F1 pic.twitter.com/RZTHVrtSiK

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 21, 2020