Schumacher loses potential F1 option for 2020

Mick Schumacher may not get the chance to prove his skills in Formula 1 machinery in 2020, with Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur ruling the German out of a testing role next year.

Schumacher dive for both Alfa and Ferrari in the test following the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix.

However, testing has been significantly cut in the 2020 calendar, with pre-season trimmed from eight days of running to six, while in-season tests have been removed from the schedule.

Rules had stated that teams had to give inexperienced drivers a certain amount of track-time during in-season tests previously, but the likes of Schumacher will not have this avenue available next year as Formula 1 gets to grips with a 22-race calendar.

Schumacher has been widely tipped with a move to Alfa for 2021 as he looks to prove himself worthy of his spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

The 20-year-old debuted in Formula 2 in 2019, taking a solitary win, but Vasseur believes winning the junior category will be Schumacher's best bet of earning a promotion, with no trips to Alfa's Hinwil base on the horizon.

"He was there a year ago," Vasseur told Blick. "For the seat fitting ahead of the 2019 Bahrain test. There will be no additional tests next year.

"First of all, Mick has to win Formula 2 or perform well. This is incredibly difficult under its conditions and pressure. We follow his path and progress with Ferrari."

Alfa will keep faith with former Scuderia star Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari Driver Academy member Antonio Giovinazzi in 2020, having finished eighth in the 2019 constructors' championship with the pair.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Nurburgring 24 Hours: Meet Max Verstappen's team-mates for iconic race this weekend

• 59 minutes ago

F1 News Today: Aston Martin announcement 'expected' as team reveal major upgrade package

• 1 hour ago

George Russell's brazen F1 claim is already coming back to bite him at Mercedes

• 1 hour ago

Inside Max Verstappen's radical preparation for Nurburgring 24 Hours race: No sleep for F1 star

• 2 hours ago

Red Bull placed on red alert as FIA president confirms multi-team ownership investigation

• 3 hours ago

F1 legend Lewis Hamilton in 'feels like home' emotional Mercedes reunion

• Today 12:57