Mick Schumacher will follow in the footsteps of his father Michael as a Formula 1 driver by racing for the Haas team on a “multi-year agreement” starting in 2021.
The news, which had been rumoured for several weeks, was finally confirmed on Wednesday morning and the son of the seven-time former World Champion will join Nikita Mazepin in an all-rookie line-up for the American-owned outfit.
Haas are counting on youth after deciding to dispense with the services of experienced duo Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean has been with the team for all of their five seasons in Formula 1 and Magnussen the last four years.
Mazepin’s arrival was announced on Tuesday and just 24 hours later it was followed by a statement that Schumacher, 21, will step up from the Formula 2 Championship, in which he can clinch the drivers’ title at the final race weekend in Bahrain. The German holds a 14-point lead in the standings over Callum Ilott.
A statement from the Haas team confirmed that Schumacher will drive the VF-20 in FP1 for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday December 11 and also take part in the end-of-season young driver test at the Yas Marina circuit the following Tuesday.
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Germany’s @SchumacherMick joins Haas F1 Team as part of our all-new driver lineup for the 2021 Formula 1 season ⤵️#HaasF1https://t.co/P20qleWLac
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) December 2, 2020
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said: “I’m very pleased that we are able to confirm Mick Schumacher in our driver line-up for next season and I look forward to welcoming him into the team.
“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.
“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 added: “The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly happy and I’m simply speechless.
“I would like to thank the 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 I owe them everything. I have always believed I would realise my dream of Formula 1.
“A huge thank you must also go to all the great motorsport fans out there who have supported me throughout my career.
“I will give it my all, as I always do, and I look forward to going on this journey together with Haas F1 and them.”
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