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Sebastian Vettel described driving Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 at Monza as a deeply emotional experience, combining his admiration for a boyhood hero with the personal bond the two Germans later developed.
Vettel took the wheel of Schumacher’s championship-winning Ferrari ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, during a weekend dedicated to remembering the seven-time World Champion. The moment carried particular weight because Schumacher was not only Vettel’s childhood idol, but also his friend and former fellow Formula 1 figure.
“First and foremost, it’s for my friend and to remember that, which was a very emotional moment,” Vettel said before driving the car.
The appearance formed part of a wider tribute at Ferrari’s home race. Sebastian Vettel’s emotional return to Ferrari at Monza captured the significance of the occasion, with Schumacher’s former team-mate Rubens Barrichello also taking the F2002 onto the circuit over the weekend.
The F2002 was the machine Schumacher used to secure his third drivers’ title with Ferrari in 2002. That campaign included podium finishes in all 17 races, a record that remains unmatched according to the source material.
The car therefore represented more than a historic Ferrari. For Vettel, it connected Schumacher’s achievements, the team’s identity and the atmosphere of Monza, where Ferrari’s tifosi formed the backdrop to the tribute.
“He’s my childhood hero and later on we had a deep connection with the friendship and got fairly close and shared so many nice memories,” Vettel said. “I think we’d much rather see him drive today than me, myself included.”
Vettel added that he expected the experience to evoke Schumacher’s presence and the values he continued to represent. He also stressed that the occasion meant more than simply completing a few laps in an iconic car.
“It’s his car, but it’s a championship-winning car. It’s a Ferrari. In Monza, around Tifosi,” he said.
The Schumacher connection extended beyond the F2002 demonstrations. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton competed in special liveries inspired by Schumacher, reinforcing the team’s tribute during its home event.
For Vettel, the drive offered a rare opportunity to honour a friend through the sport that shaped both of their lives. Although he no longer races, he said his love for racing remains, making moments such as the Monza tribute especially meaningful.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.