The Italian Grand Prix weekend brought together several generations of motorsport history, including a return to the track for one of Ferrari’s most successful Formula 1 cars.
Ferrari marked the 2026 Italian Grand Prix with a tribute to seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher at Monza.
As part of the programme, Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel drove the Ferrari F2002. Barrichello took to the track on Saturday afternoon, while Vettel drove the same V10-powered car before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The demonstration reunited Barrichello with a car that played an important role in his Formula 1 career. The Brazilian raced alongside Schumacher at Ferrari from 2000 to 2005 and won the 2002 Italian Grand Prix in an F2002, leading his teammate home in a Ferrari one-two.
The F2002 also carried Schumacher to his fifth drivers’ championship. Ferrari won 15 of the 17 races held during the 2002 season, making the car one of the most successful designs in the team’s history.
Sebastian Vettel joins Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher tribute
Vettel’s participation added a further connection to Schumacher’s legacy. The four-time world champion grew up admiring Schumacher and later raced for Ferrari between 2015 and 2020.
The wider Monza programme marked 30 years since Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 and 20 years since his final victory for the team at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix. Schumacher won five consecutive drivers’ titles with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004, as well as five Italian Grands Prix in the team’s colours.
Fernando Barrichello continues the family legacy in Formula 3
The weekend also featured Fernando Barrichello, who competed in the Formula 3 round at Monza.
Fernando wore a special helmet combining his own racing identity with a design used by his father during his Ferrari years. The front featured Rubens’ familiar red, white and blue pattern, while Fernando added his green, yellow and blue colours to the rear.
A family photograph, a gold Star of David and Fernando’s sponsor branding completed the design. The helmet provided a visual connection between Rubens’ Formula 1 career and Fernando’s development in international motorsport.
Fernando was announced as a CryptoProcessing brand ambassador in 2025. The partnership reflects the company’s involvement in motorsport and its support for the younger generation of the Barrichello racing family.
The appearances of Rubens and Fernando at Monza connected three different periods of motorsport history: Schumacher and Barrichello’s successful years at Ferrari, Vettel’s later spell with the team and Fernando’s developing career.
With the F2002 back on track and the Barrichello family represented across the Formula 1 and Formula 3 paddocks, the weekend offered a clear example of how motorsport history continues to influence the drivers and competitions of today.
