Sebastian Vettel has become a patron of this year’s Formula 4 series, the German newspaper Bild reports.
The German junior single-seater category kicks off at Oschersleben this weekend.
"I know some of the young drivers on the start list," Ferrari driver Vettel said.
All of Vettel’s four titles at Red Bull were won at the wheel of an Adrian Newey-penned car. The Briton’s teenage son Harrison will star in Formula 4 this year.
But Vettel is also referring to Mick Schumacher, the 16-year-old son of his friend, mentor and F1 legend Michael.
The 27-year-old admitted recently he regrets not being able to turn to Schumacher, 46, for forthright advice as he weighed up joining Ferrari in 2015.
"I think I missed that part a lot," said Vettel, "simply because I knew he would tell me the truth of what he thinks.
"The honesty he had in giving me advice over the years is probably the most special thing about it."