Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel will be the headliner at a charity football match to be held in honour of Michael Schumacher ahead of the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring this year.
The Scuderia Ferrari driver will be captaining Nazionale Piloti, a team comprised of drivers who play together on a regular basis; one side will be led by Vettel, with the rival team led by the Mavericks’ legend.
The event is scheduled for the 29th of July, the Wednesday immediately preceding the German Grand Prix, with all ticket proceedings going towards two charities said to be of the Schumacher family’s choosing.
Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm commented on the proceedings, saying in a statement "Over many years Michael has been both an initiator and integral part of charity soccer matches, often playing with the Nazionale Piloti but also in other teams and sometimes playing together with Dirk Nowitzki. "Both of them clicked immediately, so this combination fits very well. We are happy that together with Dirk we can offer a real highlight to the many fans who we would like to thank for their continous support with this match. We hope they will have a lot of fun that evening."
She also thanked fans for their continued support of the stricken seven-time world champion, who continues to recover from injuries he sustained skiing in the French Alps in 2013; the German was placed in an artificially-induced coma, and has been in long-term rehabilitation at the Schumacher family home in Switzerland.
"To kick off the weekend with a match of the Nazionale Piloti is a great start to the German Grand Prix," Vettel told reporters.
"We usually have a lof of fun playing soccer, and of course it means something very special to us to play in honour of Michael. We will give our best to defend the reputation of us racing drivers and to beat Dirks team."
