Ferrari Honors Michael Schumacher's Legacy at Italian GP with Special Celebrations

Celebrating 30 Years of Schumacher at Ferrari

Monza [Italy], September 1: This weekend, Ferrari is set to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the iconic Michael Schumacher's debut at Maranello with a unique team kit and livery during the Italian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, will perform a celebratory lap in the legendary Ferrari F2002, which Schumacher drove.

The race cars will showcase a design inspired by the 1996 Ferrari F310, the vehicle that marked Schumacher's first season with the team. Throughout his remarkable career with Ferrari, he secured five of his seven world championships and achieved a record 72 race victories, the highest for any driver in the team's history.

Schumacher transitioned to Ferrari from Benetton in 1996 as a two-time world champion and announced his first retirement from Formula 1 after winning the 2006 Italian GP with Ferrari.

At Monza, the cars driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will predominantly feature red, accented with gold on the wheels, reminiscent of the all-gold wheels on Schumacher's 1996 car. The legendary racer's logo and seven stars will adorn the car's nose, reflecting the design he wore on his helmet during his final title win in 2004.

The race suits for Hamilton and Leclerc will be designed to complement the special livery and their helmet designs.

Three of Schumacher's notable cars—the F310 (1996), F2002 (2002), and 248 F1 (2006)—will be showcased at Monza for demonstration laps throughout the weekend.

Ferrari announced that these three cars, significant to Schumacher's career, will be on display, with Schumacher's former teammate Rubens Barrichello and Vettel taking the track in the F2002.

"Three cars, one story. These vehicles represent different milestones in Michael's Ferrari journey, including the 1996 F310, which symbolizes the start of his career, the 2006 248 F1, marking the end of his time racing in red, and the iconic F2002 from the Schumacher era," the statement read.

In what is regarded as one of the most dominant seasons in Formula 1 history, Schumacher clinched the Drivers' title in France in July, with six races remaining, while Ferrari secured the Constructors' Championship in Hungary, achieving 15 wins out of 17 races. This Saturday, Barrichello, who was Schumacher's teammate during five consecutive championship-winning seasons from 2000 to 2004, will drive the F2002. The Brazilian has a special bond with this car and Monza, having won the 2002 Italian Grand Prix in it. On Sunday, Vettel will honor Schumacher's legacy with a celebratory lap in the same car before the Grand Prix begins.

"For 'Seb', who idolized Michael growing up before becoming a Ferrari driver himself, and for all the fans in attendance, this will be a particularly emotional moment," the statement concluded.