Mick Schumacher joins Ferrari Driver Academy

His father Michael won five of his seven world championships at the wheel of their cars – and now Mick Schumacher has officially become part of the Ferrari family, having been signed up to the legendary Italian squad’s Ferrari Driver Academy for 2019.

Schumacher earned his place on the Scuderia’s young driver development programme off the back of a strong European Formula 3 campaign, which saw the 19-year-old claim eight victories and 14 podiums across the season en route to the 2018 title, an honour claimed in recent years by the likes of Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll.

Schumacher now joins an illustrious list of Ferrari Driver Academy alumni, including new Scuderia driver Charles Leclerc, 2019 Sauber driver Antonio Giovinazzi, as well as the much missed Jules Bianchi.

The other 2019 FDA drivers are Giuliano Alesi (son of Ferrari racing legend Jean Alesi) and Callum Ilott, who like Schumacher will race in Formula 2 this year, Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman, racing in FIA Formula 3, Enzo Fittipaldi, racing in FIA Formula Regional (Europe), and Gianluca Petecof in FIA Formula 4 (Italy and Germany).

“I am thrilled that Ferrari has entered a partnership with me and my next future in motorsport will be in red, being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and also of the Scuderia Ferrari Family,” Mick Schumacher said.

“Again, this is another step forward in the right direction, and I can only profit from the immense amount of expertise bundled there. Be sure I will make everything to extract whatever helps me achieve my dream, racing in Formula 1.

“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.”

Mattia Binotto, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, added: “For someone like me who has known him from birth, there’s no doubt that welcoming Mick into Ferrari has a special emotional meaning, but we have chosen him for his talent and the human and professional qualities that have already distinguished him despite his young age.”

Schumacher will dovetail his FDA commitments with his maiden season in Formula 2, which he’ll contest with the Prema squad that carried him to his F3 championship.

Ferrari have yet to confirm whether the 19-year-old will be handed an F1 test debut, but should Mick drive it would mark the first time a Schumacher has been behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car since Mick’s father tested an F2007 at Mugello in 2009, while evaluating a return to racing in place of the injured Felipe Massa.