'Schumacher has chosen between Ferrari and Mercedes'

Mick Schumacher is set to sign a deal with Ferrari to join their junior driver programme, having turned down a similar approach from Mercedes, according to reports in Italy. The Italian edition of Motorsport has claimed that the European Formula 3 champion has opted for Maranello in a battle between his father's former employers.

Michael Schumacher won five of his seven world titles in Scuderia scarlet, becoming arguably the greatest driver in the history of Formula 1 in a decade with Ferrari.

His son has navigated through his junior career without affiliation to any of F1's giants as he has been able to finance his own path.

Schumacher Jr was linked with a race seat at Toro Rosso earlier in the year after a stunning surge in the second half of the F3 season saw him take the title ahead of Red Bull protégé Dan Ticktum.

The 19-year-old has remained clear that he intends to take a more measured route into F1, however, and has stuck with Prema Powerteam in order to step up to Formula 2 in 2019.

Prema has historically been close to both Ferrari an Mercedes. The likes of Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon and Antonio Giovinazzi have all passed through Prema en route to F1 in recent years.

Both the Scuderia and Silver Arrows have talked up potential futures with Schumacher Jnr in recent months.

Speaking at last week's FIA Prize Giving gala, Toto Wolff talked up the teenager's abilities and offered a teasing, "Maybe one day with us, maybe not…" when discussing his potential F1 future.

However, it is seemingly Maurizio Arrivabene who has won out, having said in September: "With a name like this, that wrote historical pages of Ferrari history, the door of Maranello is always open."

Although Motorsport's report makes clear that Schumacher is yet to sign with Ferrari, it is claimed that he has decided that a spot in Ferrari's programme suits better, a move perhaps enforced by Leclerc's meteoric rise.

The Monegasque entered F1 this year with GP3 and F2 titles in consecutive years and a strong showing for Sauber convinced Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen, meaning Leclerc will become Ferrari's second youngest driver in its 68-year F1 history at next year's Australian GP.

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