'Schumacher will be Ferrari test driver in 2019'

Mick Schumacher will take part in tests for Ferrari in 2019, according to reports from Italy. The Italian arm of Motorpsort.com has claimed that Schumacher will be a candidate for F1's in-season tests once he signs a deal to enter the Ferrari junior programme.

It was reported in December that Schumacher had turned down Mercedes in favour of singing with the Scuderia in a battle between his famous father's former employers.

According to Motorsport, a deal taking Schumacher under the Ferrari umbrella is only awaiting the 19-year-old's signature, but it is unclear if it will be completed in time for him to take part in pre-season testing for the Scuderia.

Instead, it is likely that he will play a role in Formula 1's mid-season tests, which mandate that teams must run a driver who has a maximum of two grand prix starts.

Antonio Giovinazzi fulfilled the role for Ferrari last year, but he is a full-time fixture on the grid next year with Sauber.

Hopes of the Schumacher name returning to F1 were swollen greatly last year as he got the better of highly-tipped Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum to win European Formula 3.

Amid reports of a potential deal with Toro Rosso, Schumacher will instead take a smaller step up to Formula 2 in 2019, remaining with the Prema team that he sealed title success with last year.

The teenager has maintained his desire to take a measured approach to his junior career in order to arrive in F1 in the best shape to compete, outings with Ferrari in the year to come would certainly be another part of that.

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