Vettel Honors Schumacher with F2002 Demonstration at Monza
Thirty years after Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari debut, the Temple of Speed hosted a poignant tribute from another German great. Ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel — who raced for the Scuderia from 2015 to 2020 — piloted Schumacher’s championship-winning Ferrari F2002 around Monza in front of the Tifosi. The F2002, one of Ferrari’s most successful cars with 15 victories across the 2002 and 2003 seasons, turned heads with the unmistakable scream of its V10 engine. “There is still a race to win, for my friend Michael,” Vettel wrote on social media.
Tifosi Paint Piazza Del Duomo Red
Nothing captures Italian Grand Prix weekend quite like a Piazza Del Duomo in Milan overflowing with Ferrari fans. Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and special guests entertained the crowd on a sunny afternoon. South Korean DJ Peggy Gou headlined the musical entertainment, and Leclerc even tried his hand at spinning the decks — though the two-time Italian GP winner might be better off sticking to driving. Hamilton chose to share the moment with his mother, Linda, who received one of the loudest cheers of the day and a true Tifosi welcome.
The seven-time World Champion explained the significance of her visit: “And my mum’s here this weekend because she’s never experienced — she’s never actually, I don’t think, been to Monza — but also particularly on a Ferrari weekend. And I wanted her to experience that and, you know, bring any of the lucky dust she can bring.”
Sainz Shines on the Venice Red Carpet
Carlos Sainz swapped his race suit for Giorgio Armani elegance at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The Williams driver looked perfectly at home on the red carpet for the premiere of Danny Boyle’s new film Ink, accompanied by his partner Rebecca Donaldson.
Lightning McQueen Celebrates 20 Years at the Temple of Speed
Disney-Pixar’s Cars turns 20 this year, and the seven-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen made a special appearance at Monza. While the iconic movie car didn’t race, the Safety Car wore a commemorative livery marking the anniversary. For drivers like Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto, meeting their childhood hero in the paddock was a dream come true.
Antonelli’s Helmet Pays Homage to Valentino Rossi
Home hero Kimi Antonelli arrived at Monza leading the drivers’ standings and marked the occasion with a bespoke helmet design inspired by Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. The livery echoes the helmet Rossi wore at the 2002 Mugello Grand Prix, featuring the Italian flag, vignettes of daily life — an espresso cup, a slice of pizza — the sun, the sea, a family, and at the rear, two cartoon figures representing Antonelli and Rossi.
Antonelli Enters the Disney Universe as Kimi Paperelli
In a unique career milestone, a cartoon version of Antonelli — Kimi Paperelli — debuted in Topolino magazine this weekend, placing the Italian driver in the world of Duckburg. Joss Hastings, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Disney Consumer Products, explained the collaboration: “Fuel the Magic is all about bringing Disney storytelling into the world of Formula 1 in unexpected and creative ways. Seeing Kimi become Kimi Paperelli is especially meaningful knowing that he grew up reading Topolino and loving Donald Duck.”
Barilla Transforms the Grid into a Dining Room
Continuing an Italian tradition, F1’s Official Pasta Partner Barilla brought the Formula 1 family together for a special pre-race dinner. The starting grid was transformed into a unique dining room with an F1-inspired three-course menu, each course presented as a different ‘lap’. Few dinner reservations offer a view quite like the Monza grid.
