Daily News 19

Tag: Monza

  • Fred Vasseur Delivers Verdict on Ferrari Driver Clash at Italian GP

    Fred Vasseur Delivers Verdict on Ferrari Driver Clash at Italian GP

    Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the opening-lap clash between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix was “not good for the team” following a disappointing weekend for the Scuderia at Monza.

    First-lap incident drops Hamilton to tenth

    Leclerc defended aggressively against his teammate on lap one after both Ferraris started from the second row. The Monegasque driver refused to yield, pushing Hamilton wide at the exit of Turn 2 and forcing the seven-time champion into the gravel. Hamilton plummeted to 10th place as a result.

    Vasseur: ‘Outcome of Turn 1-2 is not good for the team’

    Addressing the media on Sunday night, Vasseur kept his initial remarks brief.

    “I spoke to Lewis for two seconds and not at all with Charles,” Vasseur said when asked about the incident during his media session on Sunday night. “We’ll have time to discuss that. I prefer to discuss with them first and not with you. For sure, the outcome of Turn 1-2 is not good for the team, if it’s the question.”

    Team orders debate: too early before Monza

    Ferrari has resisted imposing team orders this season despite external pressure to support Hamilton, who has been the quicker Ferrari driver relative to the Mercedes pair. Vasseur maintained that such a move would have been premature before the Italian round, though he signaled the stance could shift.

    “Now, to see if we [need to] have a team order or whatever, I think that the good comparison that I made was that last year,” he said. “Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season and if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion.

    “For sure, at one stage you have to take a decision, but I think it was too early to take a decision before Monza. Now I will have time to discuss with the guys.

    “For a team, it’s never good to lose points. This is clear. Now, basically at the beginning of the season, I think every single team principal in the world would love to let them race. To freeze positions when you are the team principal, don’t imagine that it’s an easy choice. You do it for the team, you do it for the results at the end, but it’s never an easy call.

    “By definition, I would love to let them race all the weekend. Now, by reason, you have to take a decision at one stage. Each team is different. We will have to take a decision when we’ll decide.”

    Drivers offer contrasting views on the clash

    Leclerc, who later retired after crashing at the Parabolica, admitted the incident went too far. “we went too far”, he said.

    Hamilton rejected the collective framing when Leclerc’s comment was put to him.

    “I was ahead in Turn 2, by the apex, I was ahead. There was no we in it.”

    Championship implications

    Following Kimi Antonelli’s victory at Monza, Hamilton now trails the Italian driver by 76 points in the drivers’ championship. In the constructors’ standings, Ferrari sits 122 points behind Mercedes.

  • Max Verstappen: Red Bull Felt Like a “turtle” Against Mercedes at Monza

    Max Verstappen: Red Bull Felt Like a “turtle” Against Mercedes at Monza

    Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought third place at the Italian Grand Prix, reaching the iconic Monza podium a day after describing his Red Bull RB20 as fragile. Despite the strong result, the four-time world champion emphasized that the fundamental handling issues plaguing the car persisted throughout the race.

    Rear Axle Issues Continue to Hinder Performance

    Verstappen revealed that the rear-end instability he flagged on Saturday—referring to a phenomenon he calls “car degradation” where rear components deteriorate during a session—remained a significant factor on Sunday.

    “It was still there, nothing changed. It’s just not good. You struggle on the bumps, the kerbs, and especially in the low-speed,”

    the Dutchman said in the post-race press conference.

    “It’s still like the rear axle is just not very compliant. So, for sure, it was again not ideal today and costing us performance, but it is what it is.”

    Mercedes Power Unit Efficiency Proves Decisive

    Beyond the chassis issues, Verstappen identified a straight-line deficit caused by the Mercedes power unit’s superior energy deployment compared to the Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit. This disadvantage was amplified at Monza’s high-speed layout.

    “I think it was quite clear during the race that we just can’t keep up with the deployment of the Mercedes-powered cars, and that is, of course, very tough on a track like Monza,”

    he said.

    The power deficit forced Verstappen into aggressive defensive driving, particularly at the second chicane where he repeatedly re-passed rivals around the outside after losing positions through Curva Grande.

    “[I didn’t enjoy it] a lot when people just drive by you like you’re a turtle,”

    he said.

    “But, yeah, just send it back around the outside. The car is good on the brakes, so that helps. I had good confidence to attack the braking zones. Two times I managed to do that in Turn 2 and 4. That is enjoyable, but at the same time also frustrating. I just try to maximise everything that I can.”

    Overtake Mode Masks Deficit Temporarily

    Verstappen noted that the additional energy deployment available when running within one second of the car ahead allowed him to stay with the leading Mercedes cars longer than expected. However, once the gap exceeded that threshold, his challenge faded.

    “Of course, with the overtake mode it looked quite promising, but as soon as I got in the lead, it was very hard to defend. And that has been my problem a bit throughout the whole race,”

    he said.

    “Even when we had the VSC, we boxed, had better tyres, I’m overtaking cars, but as soon as they can hang in that overtake mode, it’s just too powerful for us to actually defend that, even on better tyres. So, it took me a while even to clear the McLarens.”

    Positive Turnaround After Difficult Zandvoort Weekend

    Despite the ongoing limitations, Verstappen framed the Monza podium as a significant recovery following a crash at his home race in Zandvoort and a difficult Friday practice session in Italy.

    “For us to be on the podium after a very difficult weekend in Zandvoort, where the car was not really to my liking, [is positive],”

    he concluded.

    “We managed to have a strong turnaround from Friday to Saturday and the car was definitely in a better window. But we still have a few bits and areas that we know we need to be better at, plus, the obvious deployment on the straights.”

  • George Russell “not even thinking” of F1 title comeback; Kimi Antonelli “in control”

    George Russell “not even thinking” of F1 title comeback; Kimi Antonelli “in control”

    Mercedes driver George Russell has conceded that mounting a Formula 1 title comeback against team-mate Kimi Antonelli appears increasingly unlikely, acknowledging the Italian’s 66-point championship lead is a formidable obstacle with only ten grands prix remaining.

    Antonelli Turns Monza Deficit into Dominant Victory

    The situation shifted dramatically at Monza. Starting from second on the grid while Antonelli lined up 19th, Russell had a prime opportunity to slash a 59-point deficit. Instead, Antonelli produced a stunning recovery drive, vaulting to sixth following the lap-six restart before setting his sights on the race lead.

    After passing Russell on lap 19 and exchanging positions several times, the 20-year-old capitalized on a timely Virtual Safety Car period. Antonelli pitted for fresh medium tyres, rejoining behind Russell—who was struggling on worn hard compounds—and hunted him down to claim a seventh victory of the season. The win extended Antonelli’s title advantage to 66 points rather than minimizing the damage Russell had hoped for.

    Russell Accepts the Reality of the Points Gap

    That decisive swing appeared to move Russell into a stage of acceptance regarding the championship fight.

    “Yeah, Kimi’s definitely in control of it and he’s deserving to be in control of it,” Russell admitted. “I’m not even thinking about a fight or a comeback or anything. I’m just focused on taking it race by race and trying to maximise every single weekend.

    “He’s performing incredibly well. It’s going to be exceptionally challenging to overcome that gap, so I’m just sort of accepting that is what it is. I’m just going to enjoy it from here on in and try and win as many races as possible.”

    Strategy Split and the VSC Turning Point

    Russell held no reservations about Mercedes’ decision to split tyre strategies. He started on mediums before switching to the hard compound for the bulk of the race, while Antonelli began on hards and moved to mediums under the red flag.

    Initially, the strategy looked favorable for Russell. Antonelli faced the prospect of nursing his mediums to the finish or attacking without a strategic safety net. However, the VSC intervention flipped the script, handing Antonelli a low-cost pit stop for fresh rubber at the perfect moment.

    “Well, [the hard] was definitely the best tyre to take to the end,” Russell said.

    “When I saw Max [Verstappen] and Kimi on the medium, I was feeling pretty good because I knew they were going to drop off more than me, so in that middle stage of the race, I was really happy with my position.

    “The VSC came out at that perfect point for the drivers to pull the trigger and take the pitstop. It would have been very interesting to see how the race would have panned out if there was no VSC.”

    With the title race tilting heavily in Antonelli’s favor, Russell has shifted his focus to race-by-race performance and maximizing every remaining weekend.

  • Kimi Antonelli Labelled “generational talent” After Italian GP Home Win

    Kimi Antonelli Labelled “generational talent” After Italian GP Home Win

    Sky Sports Formula 1 pundit Naomi Schiff declared Kimi Antonelli a generational talent after the Mercedes driver produced a stunning comeback victory at the Italian Grand Prix. The 20-year-old Italian started 19th on the grid at Monza but sliced through the field, leveraging a mid-race virtual safety car to fit fresh medium tyres before hunting down and passing his race-leading teammate George Russell to win in front of the passionate Tifosi.

    Schiff: Antonelli Proved ‘Generational Talent’ Status at Monza

    Analyzing the drive for Sky Sports, Schiff emphasized the magnitude of the performance on home soil.

    “Today, everybody is so impressed by what Kimi Antonelli has done. And obviously, to have a home hero like him who clearly proved today the generational talent that he is,”

    Schiff highlighted the composure Antonelli showed after his pit stop to close the gap to Russell and secure the win.

    “I mean, not only did he climb through the field, but then after that pitstop, he had to close up that gap again, and he just did it. And he took the victory here at home. Incredible.”

    The Decisive Moment: Hunting Down Russell

    Schiff detailed the critical phase of the race where Antonelli caught Russell, who was managing older hard tyres while also battling Max Verstappen early on.

    “It took him about six or seven laps before he was behind George. Obviously, George and Max were going at it as well in the beginning. And then I just had a feeling in my heart like, ‘Oh gosh, if George looks in the mirrors now and realises his team-mate is already behind him, oh my God, I would have sunk a little bit in that moment.’”

    Record-Breaking Start to Second Season

    The Monza triumph marks Antonelli’s seventh career Grand Prix victory in only his second season. He became the youngest driver to lead the championship standings after securing back-to-back wins at the Chinese Grand Prix and Japanese Grand Prix. He added four more victories before the summer break, establishing a commanding 66-point lead over teammate Russell in the Drivers’ Championship.

    Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes. Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
  • Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda Summoned for Restart Infringement, Risks Losing F1 Point

    Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda Summoned for Restart Infringement, Risks Losing F1 Point

    Yuki Tsunoda is under investigation by the FIA race stewards following a potential grid-box infringement during the restart at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.

    Restart Incident Triggers Stewards’ Inquiry

    The investigation centers on the lap 6 restart, which followed a red flag period triggered by Charles Leclerc’s accident on lap 2. As Tsunoda lined up for 14th position on the grid at Monza, he appeared to stop outside his designated grid box. Race control flagged the potential breach immediately, but the stewards deferred their decision until after the race.

    Tsunoda and his Racing Bulls team have been summoned to the stewards’ office for an alleged breach of Article B5.9.4 of the FIA F1 Regulations – Start Procedure infringement at 15:41.

    Strong Race Result Amid Uncertainty

    Despite the looming investigation, Tsunoda delivered a strong performance at Monza’s high-speed circuit. He secured his first championship point of the season with a tenth-place finish in just his second Grand Prix appearance of the campaign. His Racing Bulls teammate, Arvid Lindblad, finished eighth after an extended slipstreaming battle in the competitive midfield.

    Tsunoda Returns as Reserve Driver Stand-In

    Tsunoda lost his full-time race seat at the end of the previous season and moved into a Red Bull reserve driver role. He returned to his former team, Racing Bulls, to deputize for Liam Lawson. Lawson was promoted to Red Bull Racing to replace the injured Isack Hadjar.

    Driver’s Perspective on the Grid Incident

    Speaking after the race, Tsunoda offered his view on the restart procedure.

    “I was a bit confused starting between 14 and 15,” Tsunoda explained. “In my view, I didn’t really gain the position before the red flag. I thought I was 15th.

    “But at least I parked behind the box, pretty far, so I don’t think I gained any advantage for that. So let’s see. I hope everything is okay.”

  • Nico Rosberg: Ferrari backing Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc “doesn’t make sense”

    Nico Rosberg: Ferrari backing Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc “doesn’t make sense”

    Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, has dismissed the idea that Ferrari should prioritize Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc in the battle for the 2026 title. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 broadcast during the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, Rosberg stated that such a move is simply “not feasible” for the Scuderia.

    Ferrari’s Dilemma: Two Number One Drivers

    The discussion followed a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix where Ferrari appeared reluctant to enforce team orders to let Hamilton pass Leclerc, despite the Monegasque driver being on a different strategy. Addressing suggestions that the team should back the seven-time world champion for a future title push, Rosberg was unequivocal.

    “They can’t do that,” Rosberg, who was partnered with Hamilton at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016, said during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast at Monza.

    “They have two No. 1 drivers, both on a similar level. You cannot, now in the middle of the season, put everything just working towards Lewis. It’s way too early, and that doesn’t make sense.”

    Rosberg elaborated that while favoring Hamilton might theoretically boost his championship chances—especially given that the Ferrari drivers have been “all over each other almost every race” in the last five rounds—doing so would undermine Leclerc and the team’s operational integrity.

    “Of course, for Lewis that would enhance his chances to win the championship because in the last five races the Ferrari drivers were all over each other almost every race. Of course, it costs them performance, and Lewis championship points eventually, but the team cannot do that at this stage against Leclerc. It’s not feasible.”

    Championship Standings and Monza Implications

    Heading into the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton trailed championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 59 points in the drivers’ standings, while Leclerc faced a larger 87-point deficit. Rosberg highlighted the significance of the Monza race for the title contenders.

    “It is a big race for the championship today,” Rosberg added. “It’s the chance for George, Lewis, actually also Lando, to make up some big points. But Lando is kind of out of it today, he has not been fast enough this weekend.”

    Regarding Hamilton’s specific prospects for the race, Rosberg noted a qualifying performance that fell slightly short of expectations but remained optimistic about his race pace.

    “Lewis also, we were expecting a bit more from him in qualifying but, nevertheless, he’s still fourth, has a good race car so he can be on the podium. Not sure he can fight for the win.”

    Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Photo by: Alessio Morgese
  • Huge crash knocks Charles Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

    Huge crash knocks Charles Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

    Leclerc Crashes Out Early at Italian GP, Triggering Red Flag at Monza

    Ferrari’s home race took a dramatic turn just two laps into the Italian Grand Prix when Charles Leclerc crashed heavily at the high-speed Parabolica corner, bringing out the red flag at Monza.

    Incident Details: Lap 2 Crash at Parabolica

    The Monegasque driver was defending fourth position against McLaren’s Oscar Piastri when he suffered a sudden snap of oversteer exiting the fast right-hander. Leclerc spun backward into the outside barriers at high speed. Fortunately, he walked away unhurt, but the impact caused significant barrier damage requiring extensive repairs.

    Race control initially deployed the safety car before escalating to a full red flag to allow track crews to replace the damaged TecPro barriers. Leclerc visited the medical center for precautionary checks and was subsequently cleared and released without injuries.

    Ferrari’s Nightmare Start Compounds Home Race Woes

    The crash capped a disastrous opening sequence for the Scuderia. At the start, Leclerc made contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton, pushing the seven-time champion wide and dropping him to eighth place. The incident prompted a furious radio message from Hamilton: “Charles pushed me off” — though stewards opted not to investigate.

    Mercedes’ George Russell capitalized on the chaos to seize the lead from surprise polesitter Pierre Gasly in the Alpine.

    Standing Restart Set for 15:39 Local Time

    Drivers will resume with a standing restart at 15:39 local time. Teams are permitted to change tires during the stoppage. Russell will lead the field from the front row alongside Gasly, Max Verstappen, and Franco Colapinto.

    Further back, championship leader Kimi Antonelli has recovered to 12th after starting 19th due to an engine penalty.

  • Colton Herta’s 2026 Season Deteriorates: Two Off-Track Excursions, Mechanical Breakdown at Monza

    Colton Herta’s 2026 Season Deteriorates: Two Off-Track Excursions, Mechanical Breakdown at Monza

    Colton Herta’s Formula 2 campaign has deteriorated significantly, with his weekend at Monza serving as the starkest illustration of his struggles. The former IndyCar frontrunner joined the Cadillac Formula 1 team as a test and development driver for 2026 and moved to F2 to prepare for a potential graduation to the world championship. However, the transition has proven difficult. Lacking experience with Pirelli tires and unfamiliar with the circuits, Herta sits a disappointing 17th in the standings after 10 rounds.

    Qualifying Woes and Practice Crash at Monza

    Over the course of the season, the Hitech GP driver has qualified inside the top 12 only once. Monza marked a new low, with Herta qualifying 20th, more than a second off the pace. The difficulties extended beyond raw speed. During the sole F2 practice session, he crashed after putting two wheels in the gravel at the exit of Lesmo 2, spinning into the inside wall.

    Cadillac FP1 Outing Cut Short by Mechanical Issue

    Herta then participated in Formula 1 FP1 for Cadillac to fulfill the team’s rookie running requirements. His session ended prematurely after just one push lap when the MAC-26 suffered a suspected hydraulic failure. The 20th-place result in F2 qualifying later that day compounded a troubled Friday.

    Herta Feels “More Comfortable” in F1 Machinery

    This was Herta’s third FP1 appearance, and he reported feeling “a lot more” comfortable in the Cadillac. He explained the progression:

    “You know, just kind of having that little bit of knowledge about what the car wants, or what the car needs, how it wants to be driven,” he explained.

    “All these cars have tiny differences that make them click. I’m driving and trying to find that, so having a bit more knowledge of what the car likes to do is a big help, it makes me feel more comfortable.

    When you only have an hour, it seems like, literally when you’re inside the car and everything’s happening, everything’s happening so quick. It seems like you’re in there for five minutes, so you get out and you’re instantly like, ‘Oh I should have done this’ or ‘I should have done that’.

    I think everybody would say if they get a second chance at anything when they’re driving they would do better, and for sure for me it probably would have been a pretty big step.”

    Weekend Ends with Early Feature Race Exit

    Herta recovered to 15th place in Saturday’s sprint race, but his feature race ended on lap 11 after he beached the car in the gravel at the exit of Parabolica while running 21st.

    Championship Hopes Effectively Over

    As a result, Herta remains stuck on 26 points with just one top-12 finish in the last 10 races. He trails championship leader Nikola Tsolov by 151 points with only 156 points available across the final four rounds, effectively eliminating him from title contention. Even a top-10 finish in the standings now appears a tall order, sitting 37 points adrift.

    Uncertain Path to a 2027 F1 Seat

    Regarding his Formula 1 ambitions, Herta remained direct:

    “What I want to do is I want to get to Formula 1 and I want to get there as fast as possible,” Herta said. “How realistic that is, I have yet to be told or know.”

    Given the current trajectory, a 2027 F1 drive looks increasingly unlikely.

    Colton Herta, Hitech GP. Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
  • Formula 1 Fans Moved as Sebastian Vettel Drives Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 at Monza

    Formula 1 Fans Moved as Sebastian Vettel Drives Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 at Monza

    Sebastian Vettel Honors Michael Schumacher with Ferrari F2002 Demo at Monza

    Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel delivered an emotional tribute to his childhood hero Michael Schumacher on Sunday, piloting the legendary Ferrari F2002 around the Monza circuit ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. The demonstration run, powered by sustainable fuel, coincided with the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s Formula 1 debut with the Scuderia.

    Iconic Machinery Returns to the Temple of Speed

    The Ferrari F2002 stands among the most dominant cars in F1 history, securing 15 victories across the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Vettel, who raced for Ferrari between 2015 and 2020, took the iconic V10-powered machine onto the track in front of the passionate Tifosi, sparking an immediate and powerful reaction across social media platforms.

    The Sound That Defined an Era

    The unmistakable scream of the early-2000s V10 engine emerged as the primary talking point for fans worldwide. The visceral audio experience triggered a wave of nostalgia and emotion.

    “You just can’t beat that sound. Music to our ears,”

    one fan commented on Reddit, while another added:

    “That noise is so emotive. Modern cars aren’t in the same league.”

    Fans Reflect on Schumacher’s Legacy and Vettel’s Tribute

    The demonstration run prompted deeper reflections on Schumacher’s enduring impact on the sport and the void left by his absence from public life following his 2013 skiing accident.

    “Beautiful car, beautiful sound, driven by the most fitting person to drive it other than the great man himself. Really saddens me that Michael will never get to have these moments in retirement and the appreciation for his achievements and the memories he created for the sport. There’s a void with him missing during these times,”

    one fan posted.

    Others expressed the bittersweet nature of witnessing the car’s return:

    “That sound makes me so happy and so sad. Happy for the memories and the absolute awesomeness of it. Sad that we will never have a grid of those cars racing ever again,”

    read another comment.

    The personal connection many fans felt to the Schumacher-Ferrari era surfaced repeatedly:

    “I was not prepared for how emotional this actually made me. That car and Michael were such a huge part of my youth and a big part of why I fell in love with this sport. And there is nobody more fitting to drive it than Seb.”

    Calls for More Classic F1 Demonstrations

    The overwhelming positive response has led to suggestions that Formula 1 should incorporate historic car runs into more race weekends.

    “They need to bring a classic F1 car to every race and do this so everyone can hear the greatness,”

    one fan wrote.

    For those in attendance at Monza, the experience was particularly visceral:

    “I’m at the circuit right now, watching that car go by while singing and then Seb’s words afterwards. Tears to my eyes, really.”

    The demonstration served as a powerful reminder of Formula 1’s rich heritage and the enduring emotional connection between the sport’s history, its legendary figures, and the global fanbase that cherishes those memories.

  • Sebastian Vettel Pays Emotional Tribute to Michael Schumacher in Ferrari F2002

    Sebastian Vettel Pays Emotional Tribute to Michael Schumacher in Ferrari F2002

    Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel delivered an emotional tribute to Michael Schumacher at the Italian Grand Prix, piloting the legendary Ferrari F2002 during pre-race demonstrations at Monza. The demonstration coincided with Ferrari’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s 1996 debut with the Scuderia.

    Schumacher’s Dominant F2002 Returns to Monza

    The Ferrari F2002 stands as one of the most successful cars in Formula 1 history. Developed during the peak of the Jean Todt and Ross Brawn era, the chassis powered Schumacher to 11 victories and teammate Rubens Barrichello to five wins in the 2002 season. Ferrari won all but two races that year, with Schumacher never finishing off the podium. He clinched his fifth world title—and third consecutive with Ferrari—by the end of July after just 11 rounds.

    Vettel Overcome with Emotion During Demo Laps

    For Vettel, a Ferrari driver from 2015 to 2020 who long sought to replicate Schumacher’s glory years, the experience transcended the car’s historic statistics. Schumacher has not appeared in public since a skiing accident in December 2013.

    “I’m caught and mixed up in feelings,” Vettel said after the demonstration as he was on the verge of tears. “On the one hand it’s such a beautiful car to drive. It’s such a beautiful piece of machinery. But much more, it’s Michael’s car. He’s not here today but I felt him a lot in these laps, and I hope you heard him and felt him as well.”

    Feeling the Soul of a Championship Car

    Vettel described a powerful connection to the vehicle’s character during his laps, visibly moved by the experience.

    “It’s so exciting,” Vettel described, visibly shaking with glee. “It doesn’t take many laps to sense the soul of a car, and you sense immediately that it was a special car and it’s just screaming at you like ‘Go, go, go,’.”

    He added: “I was all the time torn between I want to push this car and I would enjoy the moment and make it last but no, it’s been absolutely beautiful and to feel how alive Michael’s spirit is and how alive Ferrari’s spirit is around here. I experienced it myself years ago.”

    A New Chapter Beyond the Cockpit

    Reflecting on his current role mentoring the next generation of drivers, Vettel acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the occasion.

    “There’s bits that I miss but it’s a different life and looking after the next generation of drivers as I said, there’s great opportunities ahead. So, it’s a very emotional day. My heart is beating and I’m very, very proud and I miss Michael.”

    Sebastian Vettel

    Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

    Watch Sebastian Vettel’s demo run in Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 at Monza