The deeper meaning of Vettel’s emotional Schumacher demo run at Monza

Sunday at Monza was one of those days when simply being at the track felt special, witnessing a remarkable sporting occasion. That it turned into such a memorable Sunday was, of course, primarily down to Kimi Antonelli’s charge through the field.

For the tifosi, the 2026 Italian GP was an emotional rollercoaster. From the always special atmosphere on the grid – including the magnificent fly-by from the Frecce Tricolori – to the tears that followed Charles Leclerc’s crash and, ultimately, Antonelli’s wonderful victory on home soil.

The most memorable moment, however, arguably came hours later, after the drivers had completed their media duties. After this writer emerged from a media session with Toto Wolff the entire Mercedes team made its way towards the pitlane for the customary team photo after a race win.

Once the pictures had been taken, however, the celebrations were far from over. Antonelli was hoisted onto the shoulders of team members before making his way towards the pitwall, where thousands of Italian fans were still gathered on the start-finish straight hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. As Antonelli appeared, the volume went up and Monza went completely wild – especially when the youngster decided to go crowd-surfing.

For minutes, chants of ‘Ole, ole, ole, ole, Kimi, Kimi!’ rang out. It was a remarkable sight: thousands dressed in red cheering for a Mercedes driver, but with very good reason. For the first time since 1966, one of their own, an Italian, had won at the Temple of Speed.

Another reason why Sunday at Monza was so special was a moment that had taken place before the race, perhaps even the ultimate highlight of the day: Vettel’s demo run in the F2002, one of the most successful Ferraris driven by his childhood hero Michael Schumacher.

Before Vettel climbed behind the wheel of the legendary red car he first appeared in the media pen. Vettel took plenty of time to speak to the media, for which the turnout was overwhelming, as the small media pen was more crowded than at any other point this year, which showed not only how much interest there was in the demo run, but also how popular Vettel remains in the paddock.

What followed was fairly emotional, especially when the subject turned to Vettel’s childhood hero. Asked by Autosport why the demo in the F2002 meant so much more to him than simply completing a few laps around an old-school circuit, the four-time world champion explained: “I think first and foremost it's for my friend and to remember him, which will be very emotional. He's my childhood hero and later on we had a deep connection with the friendship. We got fairly close and shared so many nice memories.”

Vettel’s laps felt like an experience, something special to witness. Not only because of Schumacher’s legacy and the emotions surrounding it, but also because the V10 from a bygone era did something to everyone who was there

Asked what Vettel would like to say to Schumacher, he continued: “I would say, ‘you drive. It's yours’. I missed him so much in moments where I think he could be of real help, but that's small, because the sort of loss after his accident and the pain for him and for his family is far bigger than what I miss or what people might miss about him.”

The laps at Monza therefore had a deeper meaning for Vettel: to feel, and to allow the fans to feel, just how alive the seven-time world champion’s legacy remains. “His true legacy? I think you will feel that today,” Vettel said. “I think it's as simple as that. People deeply care for him, for what he has achieved but also for his way of expressing it.”

That became reality half an hour after Vettel had completed his media duties. As Vettel climbed into the F2002, a small group of journalists – including this writer – made its way towards the first chicane.

As the magnificent sound of the V10 filled Monza, Schumacher’s legacy could indeed be felt throughout the park. The combination of one of Schumacher’s most iconic Ferraris and Vettel behind the wheel felt special to witness, and judging by the reactions in the grandstands, the tifosi clearly felt the same way.

Vettel takes in the tifosi love after driving Schumacher's Ferrari F2002

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

Yet that was only one way in which the demo run carried a deeper meaning. The second was that this demo run essentially showed exactly what F1 should be, and that visibly struck a chord with everyone present as well. Regardless of how often FOM says fans do not care about the sound or about cars starting to clip halfway down a straight – “isn’t that something you put in your hair?” – the sight and sound of the F2002 clearly stirred something in the grandstands.

As Vettel blasted past us for the first time and the sound became ever more glorious as he accelerated towards Curva Grande, every photographer standing by the fence had a smile on their face. One of them turned around, gave a thumbs-up and said: ‘Wow, this is how F1 should be.’ And frankly, he was right.

Vettel’s laps felt like an experience, something special to witness. Not only because of Schumacher’s legacy and the emotions surrounding it, but also because the V10 from a bygone era did something to everyone who was there.

Ideally, that momentum will be embraced and viewed as a marker for where the series should be heading again. Not only in terms of sound and spectacle, but also in allowing drivers to push flat-out and rewarding them for taking risks.

Vettel, of course, sees all those things too, but was very careful not to criticise F1 too heavily: “I'm probably not agreeing on everything that we currently have in the regulations from a driving point of view, but looking forward, I think that's where there's a huge chance to take people on board.

“And maybe also through moments like today remind them what the sport was, what the sport is and what the sport should be and can be in the future. And to do it responsibly. One doesn't have to exclude the other. I think we need to find practises with everything that we are able to combine things that we love.”

Vettel steered clear of criticising F1, but felt his demo run was a hint at what is possible in the future

Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Vettel’s position is particularly interesting in that respect. The German has long been one of the leading advocates of sustainable fuels – including in his own historic cars – and it is precisely those sustainable fuels that are now seen as an opportunity to give the combustion engine a more prominent role again in the future.

“Yes, but I think there's no medicine that fits everything, or nothing you apply that fixes all the problems,” the 53-time grand prix winner said, clarifying that there is no silver bullet.

“I think if you shape the next generation of cars there's a lot of potential to do so responsibly, because some things that may be incredible from a technology point of view might not be transferable to the streets. I think there's also a responsibility to do that.

Even if the engine formula becomes more old-school again in the future, F1 can still live up to all of those ideals and sustainability goals just in a different way

“If there's not that chance anymore and maybe you get to a point where you're happy to simplify things, you can achieve being responsible and setting an example – just in different ways and different tracks. Not just on the race track, but even next to the race track.

“I look forward to what the future brings because I think F1 has so many nice values that shaped me and inspired me in my life. It touches a lot of people around the world, and has the power to do so on many other things that are meaningful and impactful.”

And that is a crucial point: even if the engine formula becomes more old-school again in the future, F1 can still live up to all of those ideals and sustainability goals just in a different way. All of that means Vettel’s demo run at Monza carried a deeper meaning for two reasons: firstly, keeping Schumacher’s legacy alive; secondly, as a marker for what F1 can, and perhaps even should, be.

Should F1 go back to the future?

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images