Ferrari has announced Mick Schumacher, son of seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, has joined its junior driver academy for the 2019 season.
The 19-year-old, who won the European Formula Three championship last year, will race in Formula Two for Prema this year.Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto stressed the newest addition to the team’s young driver roster had been chosen on his merits.
“For someone like me who has known him from birth, there’s no doubt that welcoming Mick into Ferrari has a special emotional meaning,” said Binotto. “But we have chosen him for his talent and the human and professional qualities that have already distinguished him despite his young age.”
Schumacher described the opportunity as “another step forward in the right direction” for his career.
“It is more than obvious that Ferrari has a big place in my heart since I was born and also in the hearts of our family, so I am delighted on a personal level about this opportunity as well. At this stage it is however also time to say thank you to my family, friends and partners who supported me all along and helped me arrive at this point.”
Schumacher’s father Michael suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident at the end of 2013. He has not been seen in public since.
Schumacher’s fellow Ferrari Driver Academy members Giuliano Alesi and Callum Ilott will also race in F2 this year. Marcus Armstrong, Robert Shwartzman, Enzo Fittipaldo and Gianluca Petecof complete the remainder of the FDA squad.
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Lums (@lums)
19th January 2019, 17:08
Wasn’t he under the Mercedes unbrella?
anon
19th January 2019, 17:49
@lums, no, Mick did not have any connections with Mercedes – Wolff commented last year that “He’s won the Formula 3 championship this year with Mercedes engines, which is great, but he’s not part of the Mercedes-Benz junior programme.”
It seems that Mercedes might have held a few talks with Mick last year about him possibly joining their young driver team, but it seems that the Italian press were reporting that Mick had a deal done with Ferrari back in December – so the announcement now is not exactly unexpected. Also, quite a few of Prema’s former drivers either were or are part of Ferrari’s junior team, such as Giovinazzi, so between his father’s former colleagues and his mechanics at Prema, Mick probably has a lot of contacts at Ferrari to draw on.
Lums (@lums)
19th January 2019, 21:09
Thanks for the detailed answer. We need more of these.
Aleš Norský (@gpfacts)
19th January 2019, 17:10
I wonder if he is going to drive for Charouz Racing Systems that also have ties with uncle Ralf…
Mashiat (@mashiat)
19th January 2019, 18:25
His season in F2 is gonna determine whether or not he is good enough for F1. We have seen plenty of drivers who do well up until F2, then struggle massively to make an impact.
Christopher (@twiinzspeed)
19th January 2019, 19:13
I’m super happy that Mick signed with the Scuderia. I just hope he is given the space to grow without everyone comparing him to his dad. If Mick shows the skill in the next couple of years, it will be awesome to see the Schumacher name back in F1. It looks like we could have quite a few 2nd generation stars in the coming years. 2 Schumachers, Allesi, Fittipaldi all are on the rise. Let them be judged by their merits and not their surname. Best of luck to them all, especially Mick and David. :)
MB (@muralibhats)
19th January 2019, 19:47
Will he a VER situation as top teams will want to hire him and thus may promote to F1 earlier than others in the academey. He will probably be in a Sauber or a Haas in 2 years. Maybe when RAI fibally retires or GRO/MAG is eventually let go.
JohnH (@johnrkh)
20th January 2019, 9:07
Obviously Mick Schumacher has a huge handy cap being the son a 7 times WDC. It would be great if the sports journoes and fans just let him race and succeeded or not on his ability.