Vettel makes comeback teaming up with Schumacher for RoC

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 15:45

Two prominent names in motorsport, Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher, have been confirmed to participate in the 2025 Race Of Champions (ROC), set to take place at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on March 7-8.

The German duo - Vettel and Schumacher - will form a “super team” for the ROC Nations Cup on Friday, 7th March [2025] before competing individually in the pursuit of the coveted “Champion of Champions” title on Saturday the 8th.

Racing fans have a rare opportunity to see Vettel, a four-time F1 World Champion, competing in Australia outside of an F1 event. Tickets for the event, hosted in one of Sydney's iconic venues, will go on sale shortly following this high-profile announcement.

Vettel and Schumacher are no strangers to success at the Race Of Champions. Vettel, who claimed individual ROC honors in London in 2015, has previously teamed up with Mick’s father, Michael Schumacher, to secure six Nations Cup titles for Germany.

In 2019, Vettel and Mick Schumacher joined forces for the first time at the ROC in Mexico, finishing as runners-up in the Nations Cup. The younger Schumacher also finished second in the individual competition at ROC Sweden in 2023.

Vettel making a racing comeback

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Speaking about his return to ROC, Vettel, now 37, expressed his excitement at reuniting with Mick Schumacher and competing on Australian soil: I’m delighted to be coming back to the Race Of Champions and teaming up with Mick again.

"It will be exciting to race in the former Olympic Stadium in Sydney, which looks like a great venue for ROC. Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I think Fredrik [Johnsson] and his team have selected an incredible venue for the next chapter of ROC," added the 37-year-old.

Vettel also praised the unique nature of ROC, which features identical cars to level the playing field: “ROC reminds us why we first started racing: pure competition, and of course, with the identical cars, there are no excuses."

While he looks forward to helping Germany vie for another Nations Cup title, Vettel was quick to add that “I will not be doing Mick any favors when we are going for the outright win on the Saturday night, especially as he beat me in the semifinals of the Individual ROC in Sweden in 2023!”

Schumacher echoed Vettel’s enthusiasm about competing in Sydney: “Australia is one of my favorite places, and representing Germany together with Sebastian at ROC Sydney will be big fun."

Vettel: The goal is to win it

He reflected on his recent ROC performances, finishing second in the individual competition in Sweden and with Vettel in Mexico for the Nations Cup: The goal this time has to be the overall winners' trophy, both in the ROC Nations Cup on Friday night and in the individual Race Of Champions on Saturday.”

Schumacher also expressed excitement about the camaraderie among the drivers at ROC, which brings together some of the world’s best racers across different disciplines: “I very much look forward to meeting all the other drivers and spending time with them during the Race Of Champions weekend in Sydney. I am sure the drivers will have a crazy good time together and put on a super show for the Australian fans.”

The Race Of Champions is renowned for assembling an all-star lineup from various motorsport categories, including Formula 1, Le Mans, IndyCar, Nascar, Supercars, World Rally, and Rallycross. ROC President and Co-Founder Fredrik Johnsson emphasized that more big names are set to join the event.

“We are having discussions with many more international stars from a wide range of disciplines and look forward to regularly adding to our grid, giving Australian fans more and more to look forward to,” Johnsson said.

Already confirmed to join the competition is seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, who was announced last week when the event was officially launched.

ROC will bring a festival atmosphere to Sydney

Johnsson expressed confidence that the addition of Vettel and Schumacher will further heighten anticipation: “The interest we have received after announcing that ROC will come to Australia for the first time was already huge. I’m sure the confirmation of Sebastian and Mick competing will take it to an even higher level.”

The 2025 Race Of Champions will be held just two weeks after the Supercars season opener at Sydney Motorsport Park and one week before the F1 World Championship's opening round in Melbourne. This timing positions ROC as a major highlight of the motorsport calendar in Australia.

Accor Stadium will be transformed into a motorsport arena, with a purpose-built 950-meter track for the two-day event. Friday’s ROC Nations Cup will feature drivers teamed up by nationality, while Saturday’s Race Of Champions will see individual competitors battle for the title of “Champion of Champions.”

Johnsson also emphasized ROC’s commitment to creating a sustainable motorsport event, building on initiatives started at ROC Sweden. Vettel, a known advocate for environmental sustainability, welcomed these efforts, stating: “I am also supportive of ROC’s efforts in taking steps toward becoming a sustainable motorsport event.”

For Australian motorsport fans, the Race Of Champions promises to be an unforgettable experience. As Johnsson concluded: “Fans can expect a festival-like atmosphere, with entertainment, activities, and a chance to witness some of the world’s best drivers up close in one of the most stunning cities in the world.”