Mick Schumacher moves a step closer to dream Ferrari drive

Ferrari

Schumacher moves a step closer to dream Ferrari drive

German will split reserve duties with Antonio Giovinazzi

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 22 December 2021 05:00

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Mick Schumacher will move a step closer to emulating father Michael next season by potentially driving for Ferrari over an F1 grand prix weekend.

Following a solid debut season with Haas this year, Schumacher is to share the reserve driving duties for Ferrari with Antonio Giovinazzi throughout the course of the 2022 campaign.

Following his release from Alfa Romeo after three years with the team and a move into Formula E, Giovinazzi will deputise for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at 12 races given his commitments with the all-electric series.

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For the remaining 11 grands prix on the record-breaking 23-race calendar, Schumacher will be on hand to step into the breach if required, leaving Haas to turn to its reserve in Pietro Fittipaldi.

"Antonio will not drive in Formula 1 for next year, but he will remain our reserve driver for 2022," confirmed team principal Mattia Binotto in a media briefing that included GPFans.

"He will be our reserve driver for 12 races, compatible with the Formula E calendar, to which he has decided to move and on which we are very happy because that will keep him trained.

"He will be available to our customer teams as well, both Haas and Alfa Romeo, so whenever he will be at the tracks, sometimes he will not be reserve driver to Ferrari but available to our customer teams as well.

"For the remaining 11 races he will not be there, Mick will be our reserve driver.

"That's a great one. [He has] a second season in F1, coming from the Ferrari Driver Academy. I'm very happy he can be a part of the team as a reserve driver whenever that will be necessary - hopefully not!"

Schumacher proved his speed to Ferrari in debut season

Asked as to what such a move meant for Schumacher's future, and the possibility of a full-time race seat down the line, Binotto added: "First, he is a Ferrari driver and we should not forget that.

"He has been a part of our Ferrari Driver Academy, which is to identify who can be the next Ferrari driver for the future.

"Being part of it shows you are doing well, and no doubt you may have opportunities.

"He's already had one season in F1, which is important, and through the season he did well, improved himself not only in terms of consistency but also in terms of speed.

"If I look at the last race he was a lot closer to the cars ahead, and Haas didn't develop the car at all, so the fact he was closer proved he had a good improvement in speed.

"He will be driving the 2022 cars next year, cars a lot different to those of this year, with driving style, and it will be important to have one driver who understands [the cars] as reserve driver.

"I can still count on Antonio because he is a good driver, [but[ he will have a full programme of the simulator to bring him up to speed in terms of the 2022 driving style."