One champion to another: The Vettel-Schumacher connection

There is an iconic photograph doing the rounds ever since Sebastian Vettel became India's favourite speedster. Of when an eight-year-old Vettel in blue met his hero, Michael Schumacher. Both in different hues of blue, the child standing, the other sitting on his haunches to present the child with a Karting trophy he had won.  

16 years later, Vettel is inching towards Schumacher's record of 13 race wins in a single season. On Sunday, he won a race, the Indian Grand Prix, that saw Schumacher come in fifth.

There are many things that bind the two together. Both are Germans. Both share a massive love for motorsports and formula 1. Both are champion drivers who have mutual respect for each other. While Michael Schumacher is and has been Sebastian Vettel's inspiration and favourite driver, Schumacher, who is known for his competitive spirit, happily celebrates Vettel's success. He was an integral part of Vettel's post-championship winning celebrations in Japan. Here are a few more things that connect the two champion drivers....

Given his talent and nationality, Vettel has been called 'Baby Schumi' since his teenage years. He, however, didn't quite like the nickname. Perhaps it put unnecessary pressure on the youngster, who was yet to achieve much then.

Schumacher's younger brother, Ralf Schumacher, a former F1 driver, retired from the sport in 2008 after being overlooked for a seat at Toro Rosso in favour of Vettel.

In an interview before the start of the 2010 F1 championship, the year he won his first title, Vettel in a lighter vein said, "There has actually been less focus on me. This is all because some old German guy (Schumacher) decided to come back. He is keeping all the German writers very busy and that's good for me. I take my hat off to the old guy."

After his victory at the Indian Grand Prix, Vettel is just two victories shy of equalling Schumacher's record of 13 race wins in a single season. Not many thought the feat could ever be emulated.

The two drive together as a team in the annual 'Race of Champions', an international motorsport event held at the end of each year where stars from Formula One, World Rally Championship, NASCAR, sportscars and touring cars compete against each other, going head-to-head in identical cars. The pair have been winning the ROC Nation's Cup for Germany since 2007. The 2011 event is scheduled on December 3-4.