Vettel emotional over Schumacher: 'I just miss my friend'

Sebastian Vettel has spoken about how much he "misses" his friendMichael Schumacher, after the 54 year-old was caught up in a skiingaccident 10 years ago. Both drivers raced on track with each otherbetween 2010 and 2012, with Vettel taking three titles during thatperiod with Red Bull. They were also regulars at the annual Race ofChampions, where they would compete under the 'Team Germany'banner. Following the tragic skiing accident in December 2013,Schumacher has not been seen in public life ever since. Vettelrecalls the last conversation he had with his friend and formermentor. "The first thoughts were, of course, at the last jointconversation we had," recalls Vettel when speaking to German outletRTL . "I told him that I will be a father and what is in store forus." Vettel had a tough spell through his latter years at Ferrariand final two seasons at Aston Martin, believing advice from theseven-time World Champion would have been invaluable. "I just missmy friend. In recent years, he would have been so important. Iwould have had so many questions and he could certainly have givenso many answers or inspirations," said Vettel. Vettel: It's stillvery difficult to accept Vettel was one of the main supporters ofMick Schumacher, Micheal's son, when he came into F1 in 2021 andplayed a father-figure role while he got to grips as a rookie."Mick was a teenager at the time. I think that's a completelydifferent dimension when the father has an accident and then breaksaway in this respect," said Vettel. Much of the information onSchumacher's condition has been kept private by the family, withrare small snippets released over the last 10 years. "It is stillvery, very difficult to accept, I don't want to accept, but toaccept that he continues to fight and he is not well. Of course, Ionly wish him the best," said Vettel. "It is still very often atopic and I sometimes think about it quietly, sometimes a lot aboutit."