Sebastian Vettel’s tribute to Michael Schumacher
There could hardly be a more suitable person than Sebastian Vettel to take the legendary Ferrari F2002 of Michael Schumacher‘s fifth world title around the Monza track in Formula 1. Not only because the latter has always been a friend and mentor to the former, but also because, during his career and with that move to Maranello in 2015, the four-time world champion also tried to follow in the footsteps of the Kaiser and was long considered a sort of spiritual heir. Things then did not go as fans hoped, but on the Sunday of the 2026 Italian GP that thread linking Vettel and Schumacher is reconnected in memory and celebrations for the 30 years since the German’s arrival at Ferrari and his first victory at Monza.
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The emotion of the four-time world champion
Visibly emotional just minutes before his lap with the F2002, Sebastian Vettel met journalists in the paddock of the Autodromo Nazionale, including FormulaPassion.it, to share his impressions: “It is dedicated to my friend and his memory, it will be a very emotional moment. Schumacher was my childhood hero, and later we also formed a deep friendship. We became quite close and shared many great memories. And I think today everyone, including me, would much rather see him driving here instead of me. But I can’t wait for that moment in the car because I think it will be a moment when we will feel Michael’s presence and what he still represents today… We will hear him speak. So yes, I think there is much more than just one or two laps”.
“Also – adds the former Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin driver – it’s not just his car, but a car that won a Formula 1 World Championship, in 2002. It’s a Ferrari, and we are at Monza, in front of the Fans. So yes, I think there is much more to all this, and it’s something that touches me deeply. I love this sport, and even though I no longer race, I still love it and will probably love racing for life. That’s why I care so much and why these moments are so special”.
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Michael Schumacher’s legacy
“What would I say – he concludes – to Michael if he were here today? Well, definitely ‘You drive, it’s yours!’. That would be the first thing to say. And then there are many other things… I missed him a lot in moments when I think he could have been a great help. But that’s a small thing, because the sense of loss after his accident and the pain for him and his family are far greater than the fact that I or others might miss him. What is his true legacy? I think today we will all feel it. It’s simple, people still deeply care about him and what he achieved. He had his way of expressing it and it was not always very appreciated, in fact sometimes it was quite the opposite. But today we will feel Schumacher’s legacy, something powerful and wonderful to be part of”.
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