RETURNING THE FAVOUR

“I STILL AM A MICHAEL FAN,” said Sebastian Vettel after it was announced at the end of last year that the seven-time world champion’s son, Mick Schumacher, was joining the Formula 1 grid. “I’m happy to help where I can, because he [Mick] is a great guy and obviously I have a very special connection to his father.

“I think it’s very important for him to find his own path. But surely, as much as it helped when Michael had some things to say when I asked, and gave me advice, I’m trying to do the same to him.

“It’s a shame Michael isn’t able to witness Mick’s progression in the past few years and his step now into F1. So, from my side, I really like him [Mick], we get along well and I’m happy to tell him everything I know.”

Vettel made his first F1 start the year after Schumacher Sr ‘retired’ in 2006. But then Michael returned in 2010 as Vettel was campaigning to win his first title. In fact, it was Schumacher’s clash with Vitantonio