Formula 1 has told us many good stories but that of Mick Schumacher is one of the most beautiful. The son of our beloved champion Michael Schumacher, he inherited his father's passion for engines and racing, proved to be a good driver, won the F2 championship and will make his F1 debut with Haas next year. It’s not yet becoming a Ferrari driver but it is already a lot.
Mick Schumacher driving at the F2 Austrian Grand Prix. 2020 PIN IT.
Mick moved up to the F2 in 2019 by driving with PREMA Racing.
© Getty Images.
His performances weren’t particularly impressive as he ended up 12th in standings at the end of the season. But since the 2020 season started, he has been on top of his game. Something important undoubtedly happened in Mick's 2020. The victory in Formula 2 and the passage to Formula 1 with Haas for the next World Championship.
Mick and Corinna Schumacher.
“Mum Corinna tells me that it happens, that it is normal and part of life. You know? She is always close to me, she divides herself as best she can between my thousands of commitments and those of my sister Gina Maria, who has become really good on horseback. But she never leaves me alone. And when she is not there, Sabine is always with me, who acts as a bit of a press officer and a bit of an older sister. She has helped me a lot in these long months during which I have had to face - going around the world - this cursed pandemic that is taking our breath away. Sabine saw me born. When she looks at me she tells me that she almost doesn’t recognize me anymore for how much I have grown up. She sometimes tells me about when I took my first steps on karts and she protected me by making sure that for everyone I was just Mick Betsch: and how angry she was if someone tried to write Mick Schumacher. Today, however, she is happy and proud of me and my mother and Gina Maria are too”.
Mick is a great fan of historic Grand Prixs. In fact, he has the habit of seeing the races of the past. «I'm looking for the most authentic and profound meaning of some moments that have marked the history of racing. Time changes the cars and dynamics but there is always the opportunity to discover something that it has engraved on the following chapters. In the development of a complex sport like ours, many valuable things can be identified. Today the gestures, the techniques, the approaches are the result of what belongs to the past. I am particularly interested in overtakings. In the techniques and style of overtaking».
A Schumacher again in the greatest car competition, with the weight of a huge surname on his shoulders. "Comparisons don't bother me," Mick said in an interview with "Bild". “For me my father is the best there’s ever been in this sport, why should I ever distance myself from him. In the end, I'm the one who drives the car, it's not my last name."
Formula One - Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 11, 2020. New Haas' driver Mick Schumacher tests the car during practice. Giuseppe Cacace/Pool via REUTERS.
Mick was meant to make his FP1 debut at the Nurburgring before foggy conditions put paid to his chances, but he finally got to enjoy his maiden F1 session in first practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The crowned F2 champion, who recently signed as a Haas driver for 2021, replaced regular driver Kevin Magnussen for the first 90-minutes of running in Yas Marina, ahead of a further run in the VF-20 at the post-race test.
The Rhinelander’s first drive had possibilities of being messy; however, defying everyone’s expectations, it was quite smooth. He drove well, not committing to any major mistake and brought back the car safely to the garage.
“There were no major issues on either side, so I’m really, really happy.
“I prefer being quite direct with feedback even though I might not have as much experience in F1 cars as other people do.
“Nevertheless, it was good to give feedback on anything I could notice. On that part, I think everything went well,” remarked Schumacher Jr.
The Haas new driver finished 18th his debut on board the Haas VF-20 at the Yas Marina circuit: "everything went ok and the day went pretty smooth, I didn't have any particular problems. I spun for just a moment, but that's okay. I started getting used to the Haas VF-20 a little bit: it took less time than I thought for the adaptation, indeed it went pretty well. Of course the difference with Formula 2 is great: it is a very big step even though I knew this track. I brought the C3, the hardest tire, to the track and did a few laps which went quite well - the 21 year old F2 World Championship winner said. In every lap I tried to push more, improve my pace, looking in which corner I can push more. It was just a matter of time and doing as many laps as possible to improve. Then with the soft tires everything changed, you really feel the difference compared to F2: this is really very nice. I also drove with a lot more petrol on board than before. And it was very useful for me to understand the differences in braking and acceleration. Every lap is important and it's an excellent preparation for 2021, it was nice to do this session".
Racing driver Mick Schumacher attends an event to celebrate 90 years of Italian premium sports car maker Ferrari racing team at Milan's Duomo square, in Milan, Italy. REUTERS/Flavio lo Scalzo/File Photo.
Ahead of the debut, however, the Ferrari Drivers Academy (FDA) are taking some concrete steps. One of them includes a training session in the Ferrari SF71H, to get a feel of the hybrid single-seater vehicle. The car was used in Ferrari’s 2018 season.
Mick took to Twitter to share the happiness of driving the car. His post was captioned, “it was super exciting to drive the SF71H from 2018 in Fiorano today. Thanks for such a special training session.”
Michael Schumacher’s son seemed comfortable driving the Ferrari SF71H. Pacing his laps across the Fiorano Circuit, Mick eased around the corners and looked to speed up in the straights.
Schumacher helped by Vettel’s race engineer.
Helping Mick’s cause in the test program was none other than Riccardo Adami, the race engineer for Sebastian Vettel. Parting tips to the youngster at the tighter corners, Mick Schumacher was using this to his gain as he completed several laps around the circuit.
Speaking later on in a brief interview, Mick stated, “"I would like to thank Ferrari and the FDA for giving me the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a hybrid-powered Formula One car. That was very useful to get used to the complex processes in the cockpit. And of course to experience how a team works at the highest level.
Formula One Tuscan Grand Prix, Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero, Italy. Former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher's son Mick Schumacher poses by Ferrari engineers and staff before the race. Courtesy: REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/Pool.
Mick Schumacher of Germany prepares to drive the Ferrari F2004 of his father Michael Schumacher before the F1 Grand Prix of Tuscany at Mugello Circuit on 13 September 2020 in Scarperia, Italy. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Tuscan Grand Prix – Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero, Italy. Mick Schumacher drives the Ferrari F2004 of his father Michael Schumacher during a display run before the race. Pool via REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File PhotoPIN IT.
“A few weeks ago I was allowed to drive the F2004 in Mugello, a great car – but a bit antiquated. The experience of a 2018 hybrid car has now taught me how important electronics are for the drive and how much Formula 1 progressed in aerodynamics things.”
Mick Schumacher in a Alfa Romeo.
“There is no doubt that Mick is one of the great young talents and his recent achievements are proving it. He is obviously fast, but he is also consistent and mature at the wheel, all hallmarks of a growing champion.” Fred Vasseur, Alfa Romeo Team Principal.
Sebastian Vettel on Lewis Hamilton being on brink of Michael Schumacher F1 wins record. "He will never be Michael to me, so that's why a bit mixed in terms of emotions," Vettel, who grew up idolising his German countryman. By James Galloway, 25/09/20.
Sebastian Vettel admits he will be "sad" to see his hero Michael Schumacher's F1 wins record equalled and inevitably surpassed by Lewis Hamilton - but says his long-time F1 rival "deserves" to take over the milestone.
Mick Schumacher presents Hamilton with one of his father's helmets as Brit equals Michael's win tally.
Hamilton has equalled Schumacher's legendary tally of 91 victories at Russian GP, 14 years after the German seven-time champion set a mark for Formula 1 success which at the time considered unbreakable.
Having idolised Schumacher as a child, Vettel was a teenage test driver for BMW and appearing in his first F1 practice sessions when his countryman was claiming the final victories of his career in 2006.
Asked in Sochi about the prospect of his hero's record now being beaten, Vettel told “Sky Italy”: "obviously we've spent a lot of years now together here [himself and Hamilton].
"He will never be Michael to me, so that's why a bit mixed in terms of emotions. It's sad to see that he will break the record, which I'm quite sure [he will], because in my head it belongs to Michael. But even after, it still sort of belongs to Michael.
"On the other hand, I'm very happy for him because he deserves [it]. You don't win this amount of races by chance, so very happy for him."
It was only a handful of years ago that it looked as though it would be Vettel and not Hamilton, who would be the first driver of the next generation to challenge seven-time champion Schumacher's most illustrious records.
After claiming his fourth world title in a row in 2013 aged just 26, Vettel had won 39 races and was already fourth on the all-time list behind just Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Schumacher.
At the same point Hamilton, two years older than the German, was a one-time champion with 17 fewer race victories from more starts.
But the Briton has since gone on to dominate the sport with Mercedes, winning five more titles and 68 races over the past seven seasons, while Vettel has had to settle for intermittent victories (53 now in total, taking him beyond Senna and Prost but only just over halfway to Schumacher) and no more championships.
He is a “different animal” to Michael Schumacher: Jenson Button sympathizes with Mick Schumacher. By Francis Banerjee. September 17, 2020.
Mick Schumacher is already following the footsteps of Michael. Driving in Formula 2, he has already captivated viewers with his skills and he will join Formula 1 next season. Son of Michael Schumacher, Mick already has the spotlight over him. Following the legacy of his father won’t be easy for the youngster.
Jenson Button understands the situation and sympathizes with him. Certainly, for Mick, it’ll be challenging to keep up with the pressure. The shadow of expectation will be haunting him throughout. The surname which he bears will be bearing the weight of expectations which might hamper Mick.
“It’s tough [for him], it really is,” Button told Sky Sports F1.
Button admits the blood relation is ought to bring in comparison with his father Michael Schumacher. Although Button accepts that two people can never be the same. Even though their traits might match, no one can be the exact copy of another person. Even though Mick is the son of Michael, yet he is an individual of his own. Appreciating the youngster’s skills, he called for Mick’s inclusion in F1 from the next session.
“People are always going to compare him to Michael and I think it’s totally unfair. He is a different person and a very different animal to Michael, he really does seem like a lovely kid. He seems to have a great ethic which Michael definitely did have and he has grown over the last couple of years in F2. I think he does deserve a seat in F1, then we can really see what he has got then when he has got some proper pressure.”
The relationship between Ferrari and Schumacher family runs deep. Joining Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019, it is no surprise to expect Mick Schumacher behind Ferrari’s wheel after a few years.
Michael Schumacher's son Mick speaks out about father and message from him. Mick has discussed the lessons that he has learned from his legendary father and why he tries not to let himself get carried away with his promising career in motorsport. By Rhys Daly Sports Reporter. 27 JUN 2020.
Ferrari: Mick Schumacher drives in father’s title-winning car.
Mick, 21, rarely speaks about his F1 legend father, who won seven Formula 1 World Championship titles between 1994 and 2004, writing his name in the history books while inspiring many.
The youngster has since made his own way in the sport.
In regards to his father, the family have decided not to publicly address the skiing accident back in December 2013 that saw him placed in a medically induced coma because of traumatic brain injury.
Mick Schumacher is highly rated by Ferrari's Formula 1 bosses.
Michael Schumacher's family in 'stem cell treatment U-turn' due to Covid-19.
In an emotional letter with sponsor UnderArmor, Mick has acknowledged that, although he understands why his father is adored by millions of fans worldwide, first and foremost: ”he is always my father in the first place."
Reports circulated last year that Michael had been to a hospital in Paris in order to undergo treatment from a pioneer in cell surgery, with staff later reporting that the Ferrari legend was conscious.
Although Mick followed the wishes of his family and didn’t talk in detail about his dad’s condition, he did mention the life lessons he continues to follow.
He said: ”I don't take the lessons he passed on to me as a matter of course. One of these lessons is to remain constant, never to be too euphoric or too depressed."
Michael has always been protective of his private life, especially concerning his wife Corinna as well as both Mick and his elder sister Gina-Maria.
In his open letter, Mick also discussed his journey into Formula 4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, nothing the influence of his successful role model.
He said: “I realised fairly early on that I wanted to be a Formula 1 driver, a champion.
“I jumped into go-karts when I was three years old – maybe then it wasn’t a real go-kart yet -, went on to national racing at eight. By the time I was 11, 12, I knew I wanted to do this professionally.
“I’d used different names to sort of race undercover, improve without too much of the notoriety of being 'my father's son.'
“But, honestly, I don't feel any pressure to carry on the family name or do exactly what my father did. Most of the stress comes from what I put on myself, thinking about what I did wrong and how I can improve.
“People saw the magazines and "famous" parts of my dad, which I totally understand.
“I get it. I mean, he ran off five straight Formula 1 championships the year after I was born and it's incredible, right? But I did never look at my dad only as the 'world's greatest driver’.”
Mick Schumacher is emerging as a real star.
'It's to do with history,' Schumacher told Autosport when asked how he feels in Italy.
'I feel drawn to here, I grew up here and with the exception of one season - Van Amersfoort in Formula 4 - I've driven for Italian teams. In karting I drove for Tony Kart and with Prema I'm with an Italian team.
'The passion [Italians] have for motorsport is wonderful and it is equally discernible at Ferrari. It's special to be in Maranello.'
Mick is fiercely private, much like his father was and has had to mature quickly having been with his father seven years ago during his tragic skiing accident.
Michael suffered a near-fatal brain injury in December 2013, when he fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps.
He was placed in a medically-induced coma, which he is now out of, but following the skiing accident which left him battling for his life, his condition has been kept a closely guarded secret from those outside his Lake Geneva mansion.
Michael Schumacher suffered a horrific skiing accident on the French Alps in December 2013.
The Schumacher name is perhaps the most famous in motorsport history, certainly no peer of Mick will be expected to succeed as fast as he will be.
He is very guarded and rarely opens up to the media. He lives close to Geneva with dad Michael and mum Corinna.
Mick will be driving in F1 next season, becoming the latest young hotshot on a grid that becomes younger and younger and he will find himself with some incredible targets if he wants to emulate - and surpass - his father.
Seven world titles, 91 race victories and 68 pole positions is the stat line that Schumacher Snr finished with by the time he called time on his career.
Ross Brawn, now managing director of F1, was once Michael's mentor at Ferrari. Still involved in the sport and blessed to see the emergence of Mick, there is a growing sense he is witnessing a chip off the old block.
Brawn wrote in his recent F1 column: 'it was wonderful to see a car close to my heart - the Ferrari F2004 - get another outing in the hands of Mick Schumacher on Sunday.
Ross Brawn (right), who was a mentor to Michael (left), believes Mick will be in F1 soon enough. 'Michael was a force of nature in that car, winning his seventh world title and it seems Mick really enjoyed his latest demonstration run in it. Mick himself is driving superbly at the moment in Formula 2 and is leading the championship after another solid weekend in Mugello. Keep it up and he'll surely be on the F1 grid soon.'
When asked if he ever thought about taking a different road, one less travelled by his dad to carve out his own name in the world, he insisted there is no need for a Plan B when Plan A works so well for his family.
'I discussed this with a friend and we decided to each choose a make-believe job that did not involve engines,' he told Autosport.
'I simply could not find one. Everything had to do with engines and always will. Plan B? Plan A works fine for me.'
If it was ever in doubt, Mick's rise is proof it really is like father, like son.
Mick Schumacher, born 22 March 1999, is a German racing driver due to race for Haas in F1 in 2021 and is also a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. He began his career in karting in 2008, progressing to the German ADAC Formula 4 by 2015. After winning the 2018 FIA F3 European Championship, Schumacher progressed to Formula 2 in 2019 and won the 2020 Formula 2 Championship the following year.
Schumacher is the son of Michael Schumacher and Western riding European Champion, Corinna Schumacher. His uncle Ralf Schumacher is a retired racing driver. His cousin David Schumacher is a racing driver as well. Schumacher was born and grew up in Switzerland, living in Vufflens-le-Château until 2008 and then in Gland.
He was skiing with his father when Michael suffered life-threatening brain injuries on 29 December 2013. In March 2017, Mick first talked publicly about his father, describing him as "my idol" and "my role model".
Before the start of the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix, he drove his father's championship-winning Benetton B194. He drove another of his father's championship winning cars, the Ferrari F2004, in a demonstration before the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, to mark Scuderia Ferrari's 1000th Formula One race, wearing his father's helmet for the occasion.
Schumacher started his motorsport career in 2008. To avoid attention because of his famous father, he started racing under the pseudonym 'Mick Betsch', using his mother’s maiden name.
Schumacher was announced as a driver for the Ferrari Driver Academy on 19 January 2019. He cited Ferrari's big part of his heart and the special ties with the team within his family from childhood as a significant part of joining the team's academy. On 2 April 2019, Mick Schumacher made his debut behind the wheel of a modern F1 car, piloting Scuderia Ferrari's SF90 during the first day of in-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit as the only debutant in the field. During the morning session of testing, Schumacher recorded a personal best time of 1:32.552 from 30 laps, placing him sixth fastest amongst other drivers after rain stopped the session twice. Throughout the remainder of the day, Schumacher put in another 26 laps to set a final time of 1:29.976 on the softest available tyre compound, of which remained to be the fastest time until Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen set a lap of 1:29.379 five minutes later. After Tuesday's test session, Schumacher said that he felt at home with Scuderia Ferrari and relished his first drive.
“I really enjoyed today," he said. "It felt like home in the garage from the very first moment with a lot of people that have known me since I was very young. The SF90 is incredible because of the power it has but it is also smooth to drive and that's why I enjoyed myself so much." Schumacher added he was impressed by the braking power of a modern F1 car. "It seemed to me you could brake later and later and the car would have made the turn anyway. I would like to say thank you Ferrari for this incredible opportunity." Schumacher was to continue in-season testing for Alfa Romeo Racing the following day.
Schumacher was due to make his F1 practice debut at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix in the first practice session, driving for Alfa Romeo Racing in place of Antonio Giovinazzi. Due to bad weather conditions, the session was cancelled, meaning that he performed no running. Schumacher made his F1 practice debut at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the first practice session, driving for Haas.
Mick is due to drive for Haas in 2021, after signing a multi-year contract, alongside Nikita Mazepin, with whom he raced with in go karts. His number is due to be 47. After the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said that he expected Schumacher to have a "very difficult" first season, but added that he believed he could drive for Ferrari as early as the 2023 season.
It is a well-known fact that Mick Schumacher is slated to be the next big thing in motorsports. However, while Mick and his cousin David are tearing up the tracks, sister Gina Schumacher is busy tearing up the equestrian fields.
During a horse-riding competition in Verona in 2019, the 22-year old Gina took the opportunity to pay tribute to her father.
For an evening, Gina Schumacher has become a horsewoman of team Ferrari.
Gina galloped out to perform her routine at Freestyle test, with ACDC’s Thunderstruck blaring in the background. What was special about this particular routine was that she was clad in a Ferrari suit, complete with a replica of Michael’s helmet as well. Meanwhile, her horse was also dress to resemble a Ferrari F1 car with a rear wing attached to the saddle.
Even opted for a 'pit stop'.
The attention to detail was incredible and the tribute went off beautifully, though it was not known whether she won.
With her outfit for a day, she naturally wanted to pay tribute to her father. "What a fun evening and what a great way to end our show season in Europe! I am so grateful to my family and friends who support me so much! Without you this would not have been possible! Big thank you," she wrote in the caption of four photos of this crazy evening.
“I couldn't have chosen any other theme than the Ferrari one for my costume. We are in Italy, I represent the Schumacher family and Ferrari is a legend”.
She also wanted to thank her horse, her most faithful companion who, according to her, was very good and was not at all disturbed by the noise of the many spectators.
Since the age of 9, Gina Schumacher has embarked on horseback riding, following in her mother's footsteps.
The keen rider recently spoke about how her love of horses had given her strength to carry on and to deal with tragedy of her father's injuries.
She told German She's Magazine that her father had told her horse riding came with a special responsibility: 'when you drive a car, you can stick it in the garage afterwards. But a horse needs to be looked after all the time, even on Sundays.'
Michael Schumacher's daughter Gina donned a Ferrari boilersuit and helmet for the horse riding event in Verona, dressing her horse in a similar look.
The 22-year-old paid tribute to her father with her outfit and routine, which saw her doing a series of 'pitstops'.
The horse rider honoured her father with the Ferrari themed routine during a freestyle competition in Verona. Pictured performing a pit-stop.
Gina Maria has long been passionate about horse riding.
Speaking to She's Magazine Corinna, 50, together with Gina Maria, said that while her son Mick, 20, is following in his father's footsteps with a racing career, mother and daughter were united in their love of Western riding.
The 22-year-old recently revealed that horse riding had helped her cope with her father's injury.
Gina performed a Formula 1 themed routine during the freestyle competition, dressing a full Ferrari outfit.
They have a ranch in the Swiss town of Givrins - which was gifted to Corinna by Michael in 2005 for their 10th wedding anniversary - with the mother and daughter organising riding events there.
Corinna told the magazine: 'I don't forget who I have to thank for this. That would be my husband Michael.'
Explaining how she developed her passion for horses, she said: 'when I was 30 and I dreamt of having a horse, he flew me down to Dubai in order to look at an Arabian horse.'
She said that when she was there she fell in love with Tyson which was a horse used for Western-style riding.
Gina performed a series of 'pit-stops' during her Formula 1 themed routine at the freestyle riding competition.
She now has two ranches in Switzerland and Texas and, as the magazine notes, as an office clerk she ended up becoming a successful Western rider and was in 2010 the European champion in Western-style horse riding.
Corinna currently has 40 horses and Michael used to boast about how he would act as the hired help, known as a Turniertrottel in Germany, where he would be mucking out stables and driving the truck.
She said she was proud of her entrepreneurial activity, saying: 'I am glad that I have such a great team that keeps everything going. I feel the greatest pride when I see Gina. What she has already achieved and how much fun she is - that makes me happy.'
Gina donned a Formula 1 themed outfit for her routine, including a witty sign which read 'Horse-power'.
Gina-Maria is a highly successful rider and has won multiple competitions over the years, including the FEI World Reining Championships in Switzerland in 2017.
In February 2018, she won a gold medal at the National Reining Horse Association’s novice Cavalli and she topped World Championships for junior riders in 2018.
While her success was something Michael had once prophesied would happen.
The 22-year-old horse rider was seen embracing others who had donned Ferrari jackets for her routine.
Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna in Northern Italy in January 2005, before the accident.
Corinna said: 'when my husband told me that one day Gina would be much better than me, I was not thrilled.
'I thought 'hey, how did he come to that conclusion?' I mean I work with horses from morning to night, trying to learn everything.'
He then told me: 'you are too nice. Gina however gives everything to the horses, but she is also able to say no and to see it through.'
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