Two of the biggest names in motorsports, Sebastian Vettel and his younger German compatriot Mick Schumacher, are set to compete in next year’s Race Of Champions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on March 7-8, 2025.
The pair will come together to create a German “super team” in the ROC Nations Cup component of the event on Friday and then go head-to-head in what is set to be a star-studded field for outright “Champion of Champions” honors on Saturday evening.
Seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup was confirmed as part of the field when the event was launched last Wednesday and several big names are expected to follow in coming weeks.
The event comes two weeks after the 2025 Supercars opener at Sydney Motorsport Park (Feb. 21-23) and one week before the opening round of the F-1 World Championship in Melbourne (March 13-16).
“I’m delighted to be coming back to the Race Of Champions and teaming up with Mick again,” said Vettel.
“It will be exciting to race in the former Olympic Stadium in Sydney that looks like it will be a great venue for the Race Of Champions. 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.
“I am also supportive of ROC’s efforts taking steps towards becoming a sustainable motorsport event, which started at ROC Sweden.”
Vettel won the individual ROC at London’s Olympic Stadium in 2015 and teamed with Michael Schumacher to win the Nations Cup for Germany no less than six times.
Vettel then teamed with Mick Schumacher to finish second in the ROC Nations Cup in Mexico in 2019, while the younger of the pair finished second in ROC Sweden in 2023.
This is a rare chance for Australian fans get to see Vettel, a four-time F-1 world champion, compete on local soil.
Vettel, 37, became the youngest F-1 world champion in 2010 and then went on to win the next three world titles for Red Bull.
Schumacher, 25, is the son of seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, and has forged his own successful career after learning his craft in karting.
He was European F3 champion in 2018 and then won the World F2 Championship two seasons later.
“Australia is one of my favorite places and representing Germany together with Sebastian at ROC Sydney will for sure be big fun,” said Schumacher.
“After finishing 2nd in the individual ROC in Sweden in 2023 and in the ROC Nations Cup in ROC Mexico with Seb, 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.
“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 will run over two nights with a purpose-built 950m track taking centre stage at Accor Stadium, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. The ROC Nations Cup takes place on Friday, March 7, with drivers paired in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation’.
The Saturday night will see the individual Race Of Champions, when all teamwork goes out of the window and it will be a battle for individual glory and the “Champion of Champions” title.