Mick Schumacher could be forgiven for feeling the burden of his father’s achievements weighing heavily on him as he prepares to launch his Formula Two racing career, but the 19-year-old is remarkably sanguine.
Schumacher Jr has revealed that being compared to his seven-time Formula One world champion father Michael “[has] never [been] a problem for me”. The 19-year-old, who is embarking on his first season in Formula Two in Bahrain at the end of the month, added: “Being compared to the best driver in Formula One history is the goal you want to achieve and to have that as my idol and father is very special.”
Michael Schumacher, who retired in 2012 and turned 50 in January, has not been seen in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident five years ago. The German is being cared for at home in Switzerland.
Schumacher Sr won five of his world titles with Ferrari, where his son joined the driver academy this winter. He will be driving this year for the leading Prema team, who Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was with when he won the Formula Two title in his debut season two years ago.
Speaking in a video produced by the Prema team and his management, Mick Schumacher said being part of Ferrari’s young driver programme was “very positive”. He added: “I can learn very much from Ferrari because they have so much experience and I will want to work with them to achieve the maximum I can. The first impressions I had from Ferrari was very heart-opening, welcoming me in a family which was always part of my family.”
The 2018 European Formula Three champion said: “The step [up] itself isn’t that huge. In terms of lap times, we’re quite a bit quicker [in Formula Two] but it is more understanding the tyres. That will be the most difficult part.”