Vettel back in the saddle at Monza for Schumacher tribute run

Sebastian Vettel is about to give the Monza tifosi a very special reason to turn up early on Sunday, as the four-time Formula 1 world champion climbs back into the cockpit of one of Ferrari’s most iconic machines.

The retired German driver will make a special appearance at the Italian Grand Prix where he’ll indulge in a demo run at the wheel of Michael Schumacher’s championship winning Ferrari F2002 that promises to turn the Autodromo Nazionale into a shrine to the Scuderia’s glorious past.

For Vettel, there is an obvious emotional dimension to the occasion. Schumacher was the German driver’s childhood hero, long before he became a four-time world champion and a defining figure of his own generation.

Now, the 39-year-old will get the chance to experience one of Schumacher’s most celebrated Ferrari creations from the driver’s seat.

A machine from Ferrari’s golden age

The F2002 occupies a particularly lofty place in Ferrari folklore. Schumacher and his scarlet machine were an almost irresistible combination during the 2002 season, as Ferrari swept aside much of the opposition and established one of the most dominant campaigns the sport had witnessed.

It is that extraordinary period that Vettel will briefly bring back to life on Sunday, when he takes the car onto the Monza circuit before the Italian Grand Prix.

The run will be conducted by Ferrari’s F1 Clienti department using an advanced sustainable fuel developed by Shell specifically for the historic car, drawing on expertise acquired during the current 2026 season.

Vettel is no stranger to such encounters with F1 history. Since retiring, he has occasionally swapped the comfort of retirement for the raw theatre of legendary machinery, including Nigel Mansell’s Williams and Ayrton Senna’s McLaren.

But this particular reunion should carry an extra dose of meaning.

Schumacher’s Ferrari legacy on show

The F2002 will not be the only reminder of Schumacher’s extraordinary Ferrari career filling Monza with memories.

Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher’s teammate during the 2002 campaign, will take the same Ferrari out on Saturday ahead of qualifying, giving fans another chance to see the famous machine back in action.

• Read also: Ferrari revive Schumacher’s F310 glory days for Monza

Ferrari will also put Schumacher’s first and final Ferrari F1 cars on display: the 1996 F310 and the 2006 248. The team has already added to the tribute with special race suits and a Monza livery inspired by the Ferrari Schumacher drove to his first victory for the Scuderia at the Italian track in 1996.

For Vettel, however, the highlight will come when he slips behind the wheel of the F2002.

One lap may be all it takes – but with Schumacher’s old Ferrari underneath him and the Monza grandstands packed with passionate tifosi, it should be one unforgettable lap.

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