Sebastian Vettel took the wheel of a Ferrari at Monza in a very special context. Behind the wheel of Michael Schumacher’s F2002, the German could not hold back his emotion.
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Sebastian Vettel experienced a particularly intense moment a few hours before the start of the Italian Grand Prix. Nearly four years after leaving Formula 1, the four-time world champion reunited with a Ferrari on the Monza circuit.
And not just any Ferrari. Vettel took the wheel of the legendary F2002 driven by Michael Schumacher during one of the most dominant seasons in Scuderia history.
After several laps and some donuts in front of the tifosi, the former Ferrari driver exited the single-seater deeply moved, immediately evoking Schumacher and the memories awakened by this experience.
Vettel returns to Ferrari six years after his departure
While Vettel built most of his record with Red Bull, winning four consecutive world titles in the early 2010s, his time at Ferrari holds a major place in his career.
Arriving in Maranello in 2015 with the ambition to replicate the exploits of his idol Schumacher, the German secured 14 wins and 55 podiums there. He notably fought for the championship against Lewis Hamilton before leaving the Scuderia at the end of the 2020 season.
After two final years with Aston Martin, Vettel definitively left Formula 1 at the end of 2022.
His return behind the wheel of a Ferrari single-seater at Monza already had a strong symbolic dimension. But the choice of the F2002 made the moment even more special.
“It’s Michael’s car”
Ferrari took advantage of its home weekend to celebrate Michael Schumacher and the considerable legacy left by the seven-time world champion in Maranello.
On Saturday, his former teammate Rubens Barrichello had already taken the wheel of the F2002. On Sunday, Vettel had his turn to drive the single-seater.
An experience that immediately brought back many memories.
“My emotions are completely mixed. On one hand, it’s such a beautiful car to drive, an absolutely magnificent machine,” Vettel confided after exiting the cockpit.
But for him, the essence was elsewhere.
“More than anything, it’s Michael’s car. He’s not here today, but I felt him a lot during these laps and I hope you heard and felt him too.”
Vettel unable to hide his tears
Emotion quickly took over when mentioning Schumacher. Vettel then recalled a joke they used to share when they had trouble holding back their tears.
“We used to joke that when one of us started crying and getting emotional, he had ‘pee in his eyes.’ Today, it’s me who has pee in my eyes.”
A lighthearted way to express a clearly very deep emotion.
Vettel also wanted to thank Ferrari and the tifosi for this exceptional opportunity.
“Thank you for this opportunity and thank you to the tifosi. I love motor racing. I know I have stopped racing, but in my heart, I remain a passionate fan.”
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“The car was shouting: go, go, go!”
Once on track, Vettel did not need much time to understand why the F2002 holds such a special status in Formula 1 history.
“It’s so exciting. It doesn’t take many laps to feel the soul of a car and you immediately understand that this one was special.”
The character of the single-seater even pushed him to want to increase the pace.
“It was simply shouting at you: ‘Go, go, go!'”
Vettel eventually gave the Monza crowd a few donuts, while trying to make the most of a moment he knew was unique.
“I was torn between wanting to attack with the car, enjoying the moment, and making this moment last.”
The legendary Schumacher Ferrari F2002
The F2002 remains one of the most impressive single-seaters ever designed by Ferrari.
With it, Schumacher dominated the 2002 season and finished on the podium in every race of the championship. This campaign allowed the German to win his fifth world title, his third consecutive with Ferrari.
More than two decades later, Vettel was able to directly measure what made this single-seater so special.
“It was absolutely magnificent. Feeling how much Michael’s spirit is still alive, just like Ferrari’s here, is something I myself experienced several years ago. There are some things I miss.”
A return to a circuit also special for Vettel
The choice of Monza adds yet another dimension to this demonstration.
It was on this very circuit that Vettel secured the first victory of his Formula 1 career in 2008, behind the wheel of a Toro Rosso. A totally unexpected success that helped launch his career to the top.
Eighteen years later, the German returned there in a very different role.
Vettel says he enjoys his new life away from competition and now looks more towards future generations.
“It’s a different life now, and taking care of the next generation of drivers represents a great opportunity for the future.”
But this Sunday, Vettel did not want the attention to focus solely on him.
“Today is Michael’s moment, and we send him all our love and all our emotions.”
Between the roar of the F2002, the tifosi of Monza, and the memory of Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel experienced much more than a simple demonstration. For a few laps, the former Ferrari driver reconnected with a part of his history and with that of the one who inspired him so much.
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