Mick Schumacher says he's ready for F1

Mick Schumacher says it's "clear" that he is already talented enough to race in Formula 1, but suggests he will not take a 2019 race seat as he wants to hit the top with a chance of competing immediately. Schumacher secured the European Formula 3 title last weekend and has been linked with Toro Rosso.

The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher secured his first junior title thanks to a spectacular surge in the second half of the F3 season, winning eight times in one 11-race stretch.

With Mercedes and Ferrari reportedly jockeying for potential futures with the 19-year-old, Schumacher is certainly not short of suitors.

However, a season in Formula 2 looks to be the best bet for 2019 – with Prema potentially offering him a seat in the series after guiding him through F3 for the past two years.

"I could drive in F1, that's clear. It's still my big goal but it's still very unrealistic," he told Sat.1.

"In order to be 100 per cent prepared to be there as a full race driver, it's necessary to go through all the different series of formulas."

Dr Helmut Marko has insisted that Schumacher is not under consideration for Toro Rosso's spare 2019 seat, although Pascal Wehrlein snubbing the team for a Formula E seat could change things.

Toro Rosso are apparently hoping to sign former academy driver Alexander Albon, but the Thai racer's switch is made complicated as he has agreed a long-term deal to race in FE for Nissan.

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