Sebastian Vettel will return to the track this weekend at Monza as part of the celebrations organized by Ferrari in tribute to Michael Schumacher, also attended by Rubens Barrichello.
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The four-time world champion will do a lap on Sunday behind the wheel of the legendary F2002, one of the most dominant cars in the history of the Scuderia.
Since retiring from Formula 1, Vettel has regularly taken advantage of special events to get back behind the wheel of historic single-seaters.
The German notably drove the 1992 Nigel Mansell Williams FW14B at Silverstone, before taking the controls of the Ayrton Senna McLaren MP4/8 at the 2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
One of the most dominant Ferraris in history
This time, the event will have an even more personal dimension as Vettel will drive a car associated with his lifelong idol, Michael Schumacher. On Sunday, before the start of the 53 laps of the Italian Grand Prix, the former Red Bull and Ferrari driver will do a demonstration lap with the F2002 of the seven-time world champion.
The F2002 remains closely linked to one of Schumacher’s most impressive seasons. In 2002, the German finished only one race outside the top two: the Malaysian Grand Prix, finishing third. He won 11 of the 17 races that season.
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Ferrari’s dominance was even more impressive collectively since Rubens Barrichello added four wins. Williams and McLaren each won only one Grand Prix throughout the season. Vettel will have the opportunity to rediscover the very special sensations of that era with a single-seater developing around 900 horsepower and equipped with a V10 capable of reaching nearly 19,000 rpm.
Barrichello also behind the wheel
The event will be organized by Ferrari’s F1 Clienti department. The Scuderia specifies that the F2002 will run on an advanced sustainable fuel specifically developed by Shell, based on the expertise gained this season to create the fuel used in 2026.
Vettel will not be the only former driver to take the wheel of the F2002 during the weekend. Rubens Barrichello will also get back into his former single-seater on Saturday, before qualifying. Spectators present only that day will thus be able to hear the Ferrari V10 resonate in the Monza park.
The presence of the F2002 is part of a broader tribute to Schumacher during the Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari has notably unveiled special suits for its drivers as well as a livery inspired by the 1996 F310, with which Schumacher won his first Italian Grand Prix under the Scuderia colors. Two other iconic single-seaters from his Ferrari career will also be displayed: the 1996 F310, his first F1 with the Italian team, and the 2006 248 F1, his last.
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