Formula 1 drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher are to resume their partnership in the 2022 Race of Champions competition, which is being staged for the first time on snow and ice at the Pite Havsbad resort in Sweden in February.
The pair previously represented Team Germany in the most recent pre-COVID event in Mexico in 2019, which also marked Schumacher's maiden appearance in the ROC. They lost out to Team Nordic in the ROC Nations Cup final.
Four-time world champion and current Aston Martin driver Vettel has taken part in nine ROC world finals, and was crowned "Champion of Champions" at ROC London in 2015 following a final showdown with Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen.
Vettel originally teamed up with Mick's father Michael Schumacher to win six titles from 2007 to 2012
“I’m really looking forward to being back competing in the Race Of Champions again and to represent Germany together with Mick." Vettel said. “At ROC Mexico, we came second in the ROC Nations Cup so our aim is to do one better in Sweden.
"The competition will be very strong especially from the Nordic drivers who have a lot more experience than us driving on snow and ice,"
ROC Sweden promises to be a unique challenge for the drivers who will be drawn from a range of racing disciplines. Instead of the usual big stadium, it will be held on the unpredictable surface of the frozen ocean.
The equipment featured at the 2022 event in Sweden will be powered by many electric and 100% fossil-free biofuel engines including the FC1-X that accelerates from 0-100km/h in less than 1.5s.
“It’s very nice to see the many new sustainability initiatives that the Race Of Champions are implementing, as they aim to become a Climate positive event over the coming years,” Vettel said.
"ROC must provide something special in the equipment and in the racing environment, for these premier drivers to venture all the way to the Arctic," pointed out ROC President, Fredrik Johnsson.
©ROC
"I think this event in Sweden has everyone's curiosity, including Mick and Sebastian," he added. "Mick made a big impression on everyone in his debut at ROC Mexico. It will be very interesting to see how they adapt to the new ROC Snow + Ice track!”
"Representing Germany together with Sebastian will for sure be big fun, and obviously we aim to win a trophy again," commented Mick Schumacher, who is nearing the end of his rookie season in F1 with Haas.
"We have to continue the success of Team Germany, and fight for victory, and I am sure we both will take that very seriously!
"The other teams, especially the Nordic ones, may have more ice-driving experience, but we will try to make up for that with our motivation and resilience over the days of the event.
"Either way, I so very much look forward to meeting all the other drivers and spending time with them during the Race Of Champions weekend.
"The snow and ice promises to make this ROC event extremely special, and I am more than sure the drivers will have a crazy good time together in Sweden."
Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, and Daniel Ricciardo have all taken part in ROC in the past.
Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, former NASCAR champions Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, IndyCar stars Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden, and WRC stars Sebastian Loeb, Petter Solberg and Sebastian Ogier have also previously joined the line-up.
Drivers already confirmed for the 2022 line-up include Valtteri Bottas who will be busy moving form his current seat at Mercedes to a new role with Alfa Romeo next season. It will be Bottas' maiden appearance in the event.
He'll be joined by familiar faces Kristensen, Johnson, Loeb and Solberg, along with Mika Hakkinen, Mattias Ekström, Travis Pastrana, reigning WRC champion Johan Kristoffersson and fast-rising rallying star Oliver Solberg
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