Racing driver Sebastian Vettel spotted wearing a Omega

Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula One world champion, was photographed wearing an Omega Speedmaster Racing Ref. 3517.30 while commanding Michael Schumacher's iconic Ferrari F2002 single-seater ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. The sighting carried deliberate significance: 2026 marks three decades since Schumacher's arrival at Ferrari, a partnership that yielded five Drivers' titles and six Constructors' championships. Vettel's choice of timepiece was far from coincidental—the Speedmaster Racing Ref. 3517.30 is explicitly dedicated to Schumacher and remains a collector's emblem of Ferrari's golden era.

The Omega Speedmaster Racing 3517.30 houses the brand's in-house automatic calibre 3220 movement, capable of 48 hours of power reserve and chronograph operation across three subdials. The 42mm stainless-steel case sits on a matching three-link steel bracelet, protected to 100 metres of water resistance. The white dial features bold black chronograph registers and an orange-accented tachymeter bezel—colour choices that directly reference Schumacher's racing livery. Omega's distinctive sword-hand hour and minute markers and feuille-shaped seconds hand are present throughout the reference range.

The 3517.30 entered production in the early 2000s as part of Omega's Racing collection and became the definitive horological tribute to Schumacher following his dominance at Ferrari. This reference is distinct from the standard Speedmaster Professional and other racing variants; its dial layout, proportions, and colour scheme align explicitly with Schumacher memorabilia. Collectors prize the 3517.30 for its motorsport authenticity, limited availability, and the historical resonance of the Speedmaster Racing name within Formula One.

Vettel's pairing of this watch with the Ferrari F2002 created a layered homage: both Schumacher and Vettel are Ferrari legends, and the Speedmaster Racing serves as a wristborne monument to the marque's championship years. For Vettel, now retired from Formula One, wearing this reference while driving Schumacher's championship-winning chassis underscored respect for his predecessor and the continuity of Ferrari's sporting heritage.

On the secondary market, the Omega Speedmaster Racing Ref. 3517.30 typically commands €4,500–€6,500 USD depending on condition and bracelet completeness. Original retail was approximately $5,200 USD. Supply remains constrained; this reference does not appear in current Omega production schedules, making pre-owned examples sought after by motorsport-focused collectors and Schumacher devotees.