Vettel and Schumacher reunited for 2023 Race of Champions

©RaceofChampions

Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher will join forces once again at next January's Race of Champions that will take place on the snow and ice of Sweden’s Pite Havsbad.

Vettel and Schumacher will compete in the individual ROC but will team up to represent Team Germany in the ROC Nations Cup for a third time in the event's history.

Following Vettel's retirement from F1, next month's ROC might well mark the four-time world champion's only competitive outing in 2023.

The 35-year-old – who finished a remarkable runner-up to Sebastien Loeb in last year's ROC finale - proclaimed himself "delighted" to team up with his protégé

Read also: Bottas to make Race of Champions debut… at last

"I’m delighted that Mick will be joining me at the Race Of Champions again – for my first race since my retirement from Formula 1," Vettel said.

"Neither of us has much experience on snow and ice so it was a steep learning curve in Sweden earlier this year.

"I ended up surprising myself by getting to the individual final against Sébastien Loeb and now I can’t wait to come back and team up with Mick to see if we can take Team Germany all the way to another ROC Nations Cup title."

The freshly nominated Mercedes F1 reserve driver was equally thrilled to tackle next January's ROC Nations Cup alongside his mentor.

"It’s great to be back at the Race Of Champions and to see all the drivers again," said Schumacher.

"Even better that Sebastian will be competing too, so that Team Germany can hopefully live up to the tradition of fighting for the title in the ROC Nations Cup.

"I’m really looking forward to driving on ice again, and to spending time and fighting battles with this impressive roster of drivers attending."

©ROCSweden

Indeed, the ROC's star-studded field will also include Team Finland’s Mika Hakkinen and Valtteri Bottas, Team GB’s David Coulthard and Jamie Chadwick plus Team Norway’s rallying father-and-son duo Petter and Oliver Solberg.

Also in action will be Tom Kristensen, 2022 Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich, IndyCar ace Felix Rosenqvist, WRC star Thierry Neuville and five-time FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson.

The Race of Champions event with take place at Pite Havsbad on January 28-29, 2023.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.