Sebastian Vettel keeps Infiniti happy

Sebastian Vettel has been doing the ‘Keep the Sponsor’ happy day in Shanghai by driving an Infiniti round a track and bigging-up Infiniti in general.

It must be a dream lifestyle for any 23 year old man. Driving fast cars in glamorous locations, and being paid a shed-load of money to do it.

True, the sybaritic and hedonistic lifestyles enjoyed by F1 drivers in the ’60s and ’70s have long gone, to be replaced by workouts, mineral water and early nights. But still, what 23 year old wouldn’t give his eye teeth to walk in F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel’s shoes?

But there is a downside to the corporatisation of Formula 1 – sponsors. Without sponsors F1 would be dead. They pay the bills of everyone from the cleaner at the factory to the driver in the cockpit.

And they have to be kept happy. So when Infiniti – who this year are sponsoring Red Bull – want Red Bull’s world champion driver to play Infiniti salesman, they get what they want. Cue Sebastian Vettel, Infiniti fan for the day.

Young Seb has been thrashing a couple of Infinitis round a test track in Shanghai – where he plans driving something a bit more interesting this weekend – to ‘amaze onlookers with their power and handling’.

From frightening himself silly with the Infiniti’s awesome power and handling on the track, Seb unwound by visiting the Infiniti Centre in Shanghai, where he passed the time exactly how he wanted – hanging out with senior Infiniti execs.

Seb told waiting journalists that he’d been driving an FX50 recently and he thought it was a nice car. He went on to say how great it was that Infiniti were opening more dealerships in China.

The things we have to do to earn a crust. Never mind, Seb. Sunday should be an easier day.