Sebastian Vettel: Emotional message ahead of lap of honour in Schumacher’s car

By signing Michael Schumacher, Ferrari laid the foundations for a successful decade in which the German driver made history alongside the Italian team. Their time together fundamentally transformed the world’s oldest Formula One team, and the impact of Schumacher’s legacy is still evident throughout Maranello, even 30 years on.

It is therefore no surprise that Ferrari’s management are using this year’s home race to pay tribute to the inimitable record-holding world champion. To mark the 30th anniversary of their first season together – in which Schumacher won in Spain, Belgium and finally at Monza, today’s Ferrari regulars Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be taking to the track in specially liveried F1 cars reminiscent of the Ferrari F310 – the very car in which Michael began his Ferrari career in 1996.

As well as the special livery, three cars from different years of the German superstar’s Ferrari career will be on display. Alongside the F310, the 248 F1 will also be on show – the car with which Schumacher brought his successful Ferrari chapter to a close in 2006. And the F2002 – one of the most legendary cars from the Schumacher era with the Scuderia – will take to the high-speed Monza circuit.

The F2002 will be on display on the track on two separate occasions. On Saturday afternoon, Schumacher’s long-standing team-mate Rubens Barrichello will be behind the wheel. Before the Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday morning, Sebastian Vettel will then be given the honour of completing a lap in the F2002. Ahead of the lap, the four-time world champion addressed the fans with some moving words.

On social media, the German – who once raced for Ferrari in Formula 1 himself – said: “I’m coming to Monza on Sunday and will be driving Michael’s car. I’m very excited and really looking forward to it. We obviously no longer see Michael in public, but I’m sure we’ll feel and hear his presence very strongly on Sunday. It’s a huge privilege and a great honour for me to drive his car. And of course, I’m also looking forward to seeing you all.”

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