Mick Schumacher, Prema, Formula Two, Yas Marina, 2018

Mick Schumacher closing on F1 debut at Bahrain rookie test

2019 F1 season

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Mick Schumacher could make his Formula 1 debut with Alfa Romeo in a rookie test to be held at Bahrain International Circuit.

The Formula Three champion is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed to RaceFans the Ferrari customer team is in discussions over a possible test.

“We don’t know yet but we are discussing,” said Vasseur. “It’s on the table.

“It’s a bit too early but we will discuss this week with Ferrari and what programme we can do.”

Asked if the 19-year-old is ready for the opportunity Vasseur said: “To do a rookie test, for sure.

“For the rest we will see after the rookie test, if the rookie test happens. But we have to do it step by step.”

Vasseur pointed out Schumacher is one of the most credible candidates for the team to run in the test as few of their other junior drivers have achieved the necessary FIA Superlicence points needed to race in F1.

“He has the 40 points. Now we don’t have so many guys with 40 points. We are in the opposite situation, so far we have had too many.

“And if you consider that some of them they are doing Formula E, they have contracts, some of them are doing WEC and we have a couple of clashes between F1 and WEC or F1 and Formula E.”

Schumacher is taking part in the Formula 2 test at Jerez today with his Prema team.

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2019 F1 season

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8 comments on “Mick Schumacher closing on F1 debut at Bahrain rookie test”

  1. Is there a list of the current guys outside of F1 with the necessary points to be able to race in F1?

  2. Having the Schumacher surname, it was only a matter of time before Mick would end-up driving Formula 1 car. The other thing is that Alfa Romeo has apparently pushed Haas away as the favorite Ferrari customer team.

    1. @gpfacts I think Alfa are a lot more than a customer team. They are almost to Ferrari what Toro Rosso are to Red Bull.

      1. @bealzbob, traditionally, Sauber was one of Ferrari’s closer technical partners – they have had joint research programmes in previous years, not to mention that Ferrari have made use of Sauber’s wind tunnel in the past for calibration work on their own wind tunnel.

        That said, even though the relationship does seem to have become a bit closer than it was in the past, I would say that it is still some way from a Red Bull-Toro Rosso style relationship – especially in terms of sharing components, as Sauber is the one team that probably uses the least amount of parts from the manufacturer team that they are partnering with.

  3. I hope the young Schumacher comes to F1 and has a nice career. Actually, I wish that for all the drivers that join F1. But would be nice to see that name back on top of the pylon

  4. If Mick ever joins Ferrari they can put his logo on the cars, instead of Mission Winnow.

  5. My prediction (based on nothing) is Kimi will do his 2 years at Alfa Romeo and young Mick will take his seat and debut in F1 at the old Sauber as many F1 greats have over the last few decades.

    1. @garns That makes a lot of sense. And it would mean that Mick is not brought in too early. The pressure on him on his F1 debut is, I believe, going to be greater than any other driver has experienced in the history of the sport.

      Is he damn good? Is he naturally lightning-fast? Are there early signs of genius racecraft? Is he a rough stone being polished? I am also being towed along by the excitement that he can join his father’s name on the trophies but I haven’t heard that much concrete praise in terms of performance. I guess he must be brilliant?

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