Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, is all set to drive a current-generation F1 car for the very first time. The 20-year-old has been confirmed to drive for both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racing at next week’s post-race test at the Bahrain International Circuit
He will drive the Ferrari SF90 on the first day of the test on Tuesday, April 2, before jumping into the cockpit of Alfa Romeo Racing C38 the next day. This week will also be crucial for Schumacher, who will be making his Formula 2 debut in Bahrain, driving for Prema Racing.
“I am really looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great experience. But for the moment, I am consciously putting all thoughts of the test to one side, because I am also very much looking forward to competing in my first F2 race and would like to focus a hundred percent on the weekend to come,” said Schumacher, who has moved up to Formula 2 after clinching the European F3 title last year.
Earlier this year, Schumacher been signed to the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA), as part of the team’s young driver development programme. Callum Ilott, another Ferrari driver Academy member, has also been confirmed to participate in the forthcoming Barcelona F1 test, which will take place on May 14 and 15, for Alfa Romeo Racing.
“We are firm believers in the value of the Ferrari Driver Academy, as a high level training programme for talented youngsters and the decision to give Charles Leclerc a race seat with our team is proof of that. We are therefore very pleased to be able to give Mick and Callum the opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car.” said Mattia Binotto, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari.
Mick, who joined the FDA in January, and Callum, who has been with us since 2017, are definitely drivers on their way up and I believe that driving the SF90 in an official setting such as the tests in Bahrain and Barcelona can be very useful at this stage in their career”.