The difficult path to F1 for Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher

The difficult path to F1 for Mick Schumacher

2020 is a big year for the prospects of the son of the seven-time F1 champion

Sam Hall

Wednesday 27 May 2020 16:09 Updated: 17:59

Mick Schumacher seems destined for a seat in Formula 1.

There are many who would certainly love to see the Schumacher name again emblazoned on the side of a Ferrari, but what are the likely scenarios that could see the son of seven-time champion Michael join the party?

Schumacher will begin his second campaign in Formula 2 when the 2020 season finally gets underway.

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Finishing 12th in his rookie season was not a bad result, but compared to those of Charles Leclerc or George Russell in their maiden campaigns in the series, with both taking the title, it's safe to say the German failed to set the world on fire.

With the Premat team, Schumacher has an organisation around him capable of taking a driver to the title - just ask Leclerc.

When looking for a team to make the step up into F1, the obvious answer is Alfa Romeo.

Haas is also powered by Ferrari, but Alfa Romeo enjoy a closer relationship with the Scuderia and therefore, Schumacher will likely follow another Ferrari Academy driver in Giovinazzi into Alfa.

However, if an opportunity were to arise, it is unclear who would make way for Schumacher - Kimi Raikkonen, or Giovinazzi, both of whom are out of contract at the end of this year?

Both drivers can breathe easily for the moment because, in order to compete in F1, a driver must have collected a total of 40 Super Licence points.

Had Schumacher finished sixth in the 2019 F2 season, he would have achieved this total. Indeed, at the start of the season, he already had 50 to his name.

But an average campaign and the fact points are wiped three years after they being earned relegated Schumacher back to only 30 points. Without at least sixth this year in the F2 standings, he is going nowhere.

Assuming the German scores the required points, then it could be all change at Alfa Romeo.

Raikkonen will have competed in 18 seasons of grand prix racing by the end of 2020 and the Finn may consider it time to retire, while Giovinazzi, after being snubbed for the Ferrari seat, may opt to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

If this were to happen, Schumacher would likely take up one seat, with Alfa potentially opting for an all-rookie line-up as there are three other Ferrari Academy drivers in F2 in Robert Shwartzman, Callum Ilott and Marcus Armstrong.

All three drivers, however, present a significant challenge to Schumacher, and if he cannot outscore them in 2020, his name could be added to the scrapheap of those who did not quite make it to F1.

As if this wasn't tough enough, should Schumacher emulate Williams driver Nicholas Latifi in spending several years in F2, Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of Charles and who will be competing in F3 this year, could become a genuine threat.

Will Schumacher reach Formula 1? 2020 looks set to hold some of the answers to that question.

Before you go...

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