FORMULA 2: Ferrari juniors Schumacher and F3 champ Shwartzman join forces at Prema for 2020

Mick Schumacher and 2019 F3 champion Robert Shwartzman are set to be paired up at Prema for the 2020 Formula 2 season, to create a Ferrari Driver Academy super team.

Incumbent driver Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 champion Michael, has driven for Prema in various categories since 2016, winning the European F3 title with them in 2018 before graduating to F2 this season. He currently sits 12th in the drivers’ standings ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi, with a victory in the Hungary Sprint Race to his name.

Shwartzman, meanwhile, previously partnered Schumacher at Prema Theodore Racing during Schumacher’s European F3 title-winning season in 2018, before Shwartzman himself won the F3 crown this season – with Prema subsequently confirming the Russian driver’s move into F2 alongside his old team mate.

READ MORE: Mick Schumacher – 'What my dad was to Sebastian Vettel, Vettel is to me'

2020 is likely to be a crucial season for Schumacher, with Ferrari understood to be keen to promote the German driver into F1, given his family’s historic connection with the team. The 20-year-old has already tested both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo F1 machinery at Bahrain earlier this year, while he’s also driven several of his father’s Ferraris in demonstration runs, including an F2002 that’s set to be auctioned in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

There’s F2 movement for other Ferrari Driver Academy members too. Marcus Armstrong – the New Zealander who finished runner-up to Shwartzman in F3 – will move up to Formula 2 with French squad ART. Giuliano Alesi – son of another Ferrari legend, Jean – moves from his current Trident team to HWA RACELAB, while Callum Ilott switches from the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz to British squad Virtuosi.

Meanwhile, Williams have confirmed that Nicholas Latifi, currently second in the F2 standings, will graduate to Formula 1 for 2020, with the Canadian set to partner George Russell at the team.

READ MORE: Why Williams chose Latifi for 2020