Alongside Ferrari's tributes to the seven-time world champion 30 years on from his debut season - in the shape of a special Italian GP livery donning Schumacher's logo and iconic seven stars from his helmet - Vettel will take part in an honorary lap in the car that clinched his close friend's fifth Drivers' title in 2002.

This weekend at Monza will not be the first time Vettel has driven iconic F1 machinery in the build up to the Grand Prix - the four-time world champion drove Nigel Mansell's 1992 championship winning Williams at Silverstone in 2022, and Aryton Senna's 1993 McLaren at Imola two years later.

This weekend's tribute, however, will be particularly close to Vettel, with Schumacher having been the former Red Bull driver's idol growing up, and a key inspiration behind his move to Ferrari in 2015.

In an Instagram video captioned, "There is still a race to win – for my friend Michael," Vettel said: "Hey, everyone, I'll be coming to Monza this Sunday, and I will be driving Michael's car. I'm very excited about it and I look forward to it.

Fellow seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also paid tribute to Schumacher in the build up to the special weekend. Addressing the weekend's special livery, Hamilton actually linked the seven stars to his own seven Drivers' title wins, before paying a nostalgic tribute to Schumacher, whose win record at Monza is also shared by the Briton - each with five victories at the Italian GP circuit.

Hamilton said: "I haven’t actually seen the livery, but I’m wearing a shirt with seven stars, which is quite fitting because I have seven stars too, so it feels alright.So it feels like it’s also mine. But I mean, it’s kind of crazy. Last year, we celebrated Niki [Lauda], who was a dear friend, and Michael.