Mick Schumacher: Will the legacy in Ferrari continue?

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22 years after his father started a cycle full of titles, the current champion of the European Formula 3, Mick Schumacher, arrives at the Pilot Academy

The Ferrari team comes from difficult years with the unwavering dominance of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. But 2019 could be the year of a resurgence with the new measures of competition established and related to vehicles and the future commitment of several young people. Among these young people is the German Mick Schumacher, son of the seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, who was linked to the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA), the Academy of the Italian Scuderia that develops European talents.

Leer en español: Mick Schumacher: ¿Se extenderá el legado en Ferrari?

The information was official on Saturday, January 19, thanks to a statement from the Italian team that read: "Ferrari Driver Academy announces that it has signed a contract with the Formula 3 European Champion 2018, Mick Schumacher. Mick, who, in 2019, will run in the Formula 2 championship, from next week will work with his colleagues from the FDA in the preparation activities of the preseason.

According to La Vanguardia, Schumacher, almost 20 years old, will join other talented pilots in training of his generation such as the French Giuliano Alesi, the British Callum Ilott, these two former Formula 2, as well as the New Zealander Marcus Armstrong and the Russian Robert Schwartzman, former Formula 3, and finally Enzo Fittipaldi, of the FIA Regional Formula, and Gianluca Pentecof, of Formula 4.

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He did not climb because of his father

The same media highlighted the first statements of Mick after signing with the Italian house, the same one in which his father made history. "I am very happy to have reached an agreement with Ferrari and the fact that my future in the automotive competitions is 'red' when entering the Ferrari Driver Academy. It is another step in the right direction because it is a benefit for me in the one that I hope to learn to fulfill my dream: to compete in F1".

The Observer indicates that the development of Schumacher Jr., is very similar to what they had at the time, Charles Leclerc, the French driver who will be with Ferrari in 2019 with Sebastian Vettel, and the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, who will race Sauber this season.

The aforementioned means that having been champion of Formula 3, a very competitive category and just in its second year, was what opened the doors to Schumacher, who for now will have the possibility of driving two cars of the highest category in sessions test. To be part of the main team, it is still missing.

Al Aire Libre de Chile was based on information from Motorsport Italia, which ensures that Schumacher has already obtained the Superlicense required to use a single-seater F1 car and that this facilitated his election. According to this information, the agreement includes the possibility of testing the vehicles in the tests after the Spanish Grand Prix, at the Circuit de Barcelona. In the case of Mick, Formula 2 will be his official competition this year in parallel with the academy.

A long-term bet

Motor Pasion clarifies that the commitment of Schumacher Jr. is long-term and that the current champion of the European Formula 3 will continue to grow as a pilot in the Italian team.

One of the leaders of Ferrari, Maurizio Arrivabene, said the theory of the long term: "the most important thing is to let him grow without too much pressure, recent results are good and I predict a great career with a name like his, it has been part of the history of Ferrari, the doors of Maranello will always be open".

In turn, Mattia Binotto, who was Ferrari engineer at the time of Schumacher father and now serves as team leader said: "For someone like me, who knows him since he was born, there is no doubt that welcoming him to Mick a Ferrari has an emotionally special meaning, but we have chosen him for his talent and his human and professional qualities that have made him stand out despite his youth, "Motor Passion replied. Everything suggests that Schumi Jr. is on the right track.

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Translated from "Mick Schumacher: ¿se extenderá el legado en Ferrari?"