Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher were close friends before the F1 icon’s skiing accident in 2013.

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher were close friends (Image: Dennis Grombkowski, Bongarts/Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel previously moved many Formula One fans to tears when he shared a touching photograph featuring his idol Michael Schumacher. The four-time world champion posted a sentimental image on social media almost three years ago, showing the F1 icon offering advice during his karting days.

Schumacher secured seven world titles, initially claiming two victories with Benetton before capturing five successive championships with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004. The 57-year-old sustained devastating injuries following a skiing mishap in December 2013. The German racing driver has remained absent from public view since the accident, with his spouse Corinna maintaining a tight-knit circle to ensure privacy about her husband’s condition. Vettel has not encountered Schumacher since the skiing incident, yet the pair shared a connection that extended far beyond the F1 paddock.

The duo competed for opposing teams during Schumacher’s three-year return with Mercedes and joined forces to secure six straight Race of Champions Nations’ Cups for Germany. However, Vettel demonstrated that their relationship spanned decades in a social media upload nearly three years ago.

The photograph depicted Schumacher crouching beside a youthful Vettel in a silver kart. Sharing the snapshot on Instagram in 2023, Vettel wrote: “Receiving last Orders (NRW Cup Final, Kerpen, Germany).”

The post sparked an emotional reaction from F1 fans, who were delighted to see the vintage photograph of Schumacher. One penned: “This right here. This is cute.” A second remarked: “Seb, I don’t want to cry, but now you are making me.” A third said: “Who’s cutting onions man?” A fourth declared: “Now I am crying in the subway..”

In 2023, Vettel revealed the profound nature of his bond with Schumacher by recounting their final conversation before his life-changing injuries. “Of course, the first thoughts immediately went to the last conversation we had together, and that couldn’t be more positive,” Vettel told RTL.

“I told him that I was going to be a father and what was coming for us. And I think I really appreciated it towards the end in that sense, where our relationship became stronger and stronger before the accident.

“Because I think we both got to know each other more and more and racing was no longer the biggest thing we had in common, but life in general and life with and around racing. And I just miss my friend.”

Vettel helped Mick Schumacher during his time as an F1 driver (Image: Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

Repaying Schumacher’s earlier guidance, Vettel took his son Mick under his wing. Despite competing for rival teams, Vettel provided the young racer with mentorship shortly after he had secured his place on the F1 grid.

“I am obviously friends with his father and his father is my hero,” Vettel said of Mick in 2021. “We get along really well and I’m happy to help with stuff that maybe I can help with.”

Meanwhile, Mick, who has since transitioned to endurance racing, was effusive in his praise for Vettel. “He’s a huge help for me in all ways, anything on and off the track,” said Schumacher Jr. “I’m happy that I can go back to somebody that has so much experience but also that is so likeable. Very happy he’s around.”