Ferrari prepares extensive Michael Schumacher tribute at Monza

Ferrari will turn the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza into a celebration of Michael Schumacher, three decades after the German driver joined the team.

The Ferrari SF-26 cars driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will feature a design inspired by the F310 that Schumacher drove in his first Ferrari season in 1996. The predominantly red cars will include white and black details, a gold element on the tires recalling the magnesium components used at the time, and Schumacher’s logo.

The nose design will draw on one of his final helmets, with seven stars set against a red background. Ferrari will also bring three cars from different stages of Schumacher’s career to the tribute: the 1996 F310, the 248 F1 from 2006 and the F2002, which carried him to the 2002 world title.

Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher’s teammate for five seasons, will drive the F2002 on Saturday. Sebastian Vettel will complete a tribute lap before Sunday’s race. Schumacher won at Monza five times, in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006, and remains Ferrari’s most successful Formula One driver.

The tribute will continue at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from Sept. 4 to 30. The museum will display the five cars Schumacher used to win titles between 2000 and 2004, alongside trophies and other material dedicated to him.