Vettel wants to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Schumacher.

The German driver was honored with his victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix and hopes for even more wins with the Ferrari team to follow in the footsteps of his legendary compatriot.

Vettel proudly secured first place in his second race with Ferrari. Photo: Formula 1.

Vettel needed only two races to secure his first victory for Ferrari after leaving Red Bull. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old's childhood idol, the legendary Michael Schumacher, took seven races to achieve his first win for the Italian team upon joining. Therefore, Vettel feels honored and proud to have had such a strong start in his first races in the red colors.

"It's unbelievable. When I stepped onto the podium and looked down at the crowd, I couldn't believe my eyes. I could only recall the scene when Fernando Alonso won for Ferrari and especially when Schumi celebrated with the team. I think there are only one or two times I've witnessed moments like this. Being a part of Ferrari is a very special feeling," Vettel shared after his victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on March 29th.

Vettel recounted that before joining Ferrari, the last time he had been to the Italian team's headquarters (Maranello) was when he was a child. "Back then, I stood behind the fence watching Schumi drive his Ferrari. It's hard to believe that now I get to drive a red car just like his. When I was little, he was my idol. Kids like me always looked up in admiration to Schumi when he visited the go-kart track in Germany. His visits and handshakes each year made life more meaningful for kids like me. So, I think I still don't fully understand how special it was. It was very emotional," he recalled.

Vettel (left) has always admired Schumi since childhood, while the German racing legend also greatly appreciated the talent of his younger compatriot.

During his 11 seasons with Ferrari (1996-2006), Schumacher achieved 72 victories and five consecutive world championships (from 2000 to 2004). Therefore, Vettel expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of his legendary compatriot: "Schumi left such a huge mark. My goal is not only to achieve the same feats as him but to elevate success to an even higher level. My immediate goal in the coming years is to bring the world championship back to Maranello."

According to VNE