Mick Schumacher – son of seven-time world champion Michael – will join the Formula 1 grid for 2021 having secured the second Haas seat.
The 21-year-old Schumacher and fellow Formula 2 racer Nikita Mazepin had been tipped to get the two Haas seats as soon as the team announced in October that it was dropping both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. Mazepin’s deal was announced on Tuesday.
Long-time Ferrari protege Schumacher goes into this weekend’s F2 season finale in Bahrain leading the championship in his second campaign with Prema Racing in the final step below F1.
He had previously won the European Formula 3 title in 2018.
Schumacher will make his debut with Haas in Friday practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before participating in the subsequent young driver test with the team.
“The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly happy and I’m simply speechless,” said Schumacher, who the team says will be on a “multi-year” F1 deal.
“I would like to thank Haas F1 team, Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari Driver Academy for placing their trust in me.
“I also want to acknowledge and extend my love to my parents – I know that I owe them everything. I have always believed that I would realise my dream of Formula 1.”
Schumacher should’ve made his F1 weekend debut at the Eifel GP at the Nurburgring in October, when he was due to drive for Alfa Romeo in Friday morning practice before fog forced the cancellation of the session.
He has previously had full F1 test days with both Alfa and Ferrari during 2019, as well as driving an older Ferrari at test track Fiorano and demonstrating some of his father’s F1 cars at GPs.
Team principal Guenther Steiner said Schumacher’s performances in his career so far, and particularly in F2 this year, had more than proved he was worthy of F1.
“The Formula 2 Championship has long served as a proving ground for talent to showcase their credentials and this year’s field has undoubtedly been one of the most competitive in recent seasons. Mick has won races, collected podiums and excelled against some pretty exceptional talent in 2020,” said Steiner.
Welcome, Mick! 🇩🇪#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/DdKw3m0zxC
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) December 2, 2020
“I firmly believe he’s earned the opportunity to graduate into Formula 1 based on his performances.
“We have an opportunity ahead of us, as a team, to evaluate and nurture a new driver given our familiarity with our race package heading into 2021.
“We are putting in place our building blocks for the continued long-term growth of the team and I look forward to Mick’s contributions both on and off the track in that process.”
Schumacher’s Prema F2 replacement has already been revealed, as reigning FIA Formula 3 champion and Renault F1 junior Oscar Piastri has taken his seat.
The Race understands Schumacher’s current team-mate – another Ferrari junior, Robert Shwartzman – will remain with Prema next year for a second F2 season at the team, alongside Piastri.
