Jannik Sinner watched on as a fan at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Image: Getty)
Italian tennis star has revealed how F1 icon ’s tragic skiing accident taught him to never take anything for granted. The 23-year-old was speaking at the , where he was invited to wave the chequered flag and tag along in a road car with the Scuderia’s .
hero Schumacher suffered his injury in December 2013 while skiing at the Meribel resort in the French Alps. Having veered off course, the German hit his head on a rock, , and was placed in a medically induced coma until June 2014.
Sinner, who is one of the flagbearers of men’s tennis, grew up watching Formula One and as he mixed with the grid, he also opened up about what Schumacher’s accident meant to him as a child.
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“Even as a child, I always followed F1, but I had never been to a live race,” Sinner began, speaking to . “The first memory is of Schumacher.
“When he had his skiing accident, it was a huge blow for me. That episode made me realise that life can change in a second. Never take anything for granted, you have to live one day at a time, enjoy it with a purpose.”
The 23-year-old enjoyed a highly successful 2024 ATP Tour season, netting debut Grand Slams at the Australian Open and US Open alongside an ATP Finals win. Such experience, however, couldn’t prepare him for taking to the track with star Leclerc, who wowed the Italian with his control.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher hasn’t been seen in the public eye for over a decade (Image: Getty)
“It’s incredible the control he [Leclerc] has,” Sinner continued. “[It was a] unique experience. We text each other, but we hadn’t met in person yet. I kind of knew what to expect.
“I had already driven at Fiorano (‘s private ractrack in Modena) but not with him. I love driving after training, in the car I isolate myself. I put the music on and drive around by myself.
“Last year, when I was training in Alicante, I used to go to a circuit near there. In Monaco I have fun with the simulator together with my friend Antonio Giovinazzi.”
Sinner’s love for F1 started as a child (Image: Getty)
Just as Sinner hopes one day to dominate his sport, another of F1’s finest, four-time world champion, , has offered advice to him – with a particular piece that the prodigy has taken on board regarding longevity.
“I spoke a little while ago with Max, we were commenting on some of his words,” Sinner added. “He said that he doesn’t chase the records of other drivers, because he also loves being with his family. We are athletes, but we are also people: friends and family are the most important things. I try to do the best I can in tennis.
“We did some tests to understand what kind of preparation to do, what strategies to use. Behind there are many sacrifices, I’m only 23 years old, not 27 [like Verstappen] and I’ve only done this season at the top. The goal is not just to win for three years, but to still be in the game when I’m 30. This season has been incredible, but everything can change.”