Sebastian Vettel is now a mentor for the son of hero Michael Schumacher, Mick

Michael Schumacher was Sebastian Vettel’s youth hero, now the younger German gives the son of Formula 1 great Mick orientation and guidance.

Schumacher senior, who won five of his seven titles with Ferrari, has not appeared in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013.

22-year-old Mick was promoted to Formula 1 at Haas with a Ferrari engine this season after winning the Formula 2 title last year.

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The four-time world champion Vettel, called “Baby Schumacher” at the beginning of his career and also a former Ferrari driver, gave advice when asked.

“I’m obviously friends with his father and his father is my hero,” the Aston Martin driver told reporters ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

“We get along very well and I like to help with things that I might be able to help with. It is always difficult to drive, every car is different and every environment is different.”

One example was seen at the French Grand Prix in June when Schumacher was filmed showing Vettel the inside of the cockpit of his car.

It turned out that the youngster pointed to his seating position and later stated that he had been sitting crooked all season.

Schumacher said he appreciated Vettel’s advice.

“He’s a huge help to me in every way, both on and off the track,” he said.

“I am glad that I can fall back on someone who has so much experience, but is also so personable. Very happy that he is there.”

Haas team boss Günther Steiner said he had no problem with the driver of an opposing team helping his own.

“I think it’s a great thing,” he told reporters on Friday. “It’s an advantage for Mick.

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“Vettel has been in the sport for a long time and he feels connected to Mick and just tries to help him as best he can … I don’t see a problem in that.”

Schumacher was ahead of Russian rookie team-mate Nikita Mazepin, whose father’s company is the team’s title sponsor, in qualifying and in most of the races this season. Haas has not yet scored a point in eight laps.

“I think he knows what to do behind the wheel,” said Vettel von Schumacher. “He’s really fine. I think it’s not easy to get into the first year, it’s a difficult situation for him.

“He seems to lift the whole team … I think he’s probably even more impressive, he puts a lot of work into it and he enjoys it.”