(Paris) German Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, will be one of Ferrari’s reserve drivers, in addition to competing in the 2022 Formula 1 season with Haas, announced Scuderia Team Principal Mattia Binotto.
“We must not forget that he is already a Ferrari driver: he is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and, as we repeat, this academy exists to identify future Ferrari drivers”, Binotto explained during a conference of virtual press Monday. “If you are part of it and you are successful, you will definitely have opportunities. ”
It is in any case an encouragement after the first season of Schumacher in the premier category in 2021. The Italian leader believes that the German (19e and penultimate titular driver, with no points scored behind the wheel of a very weak Haas) “did well and progressed, not just in terms of consistency, but also in speed”.
Mick, who will be 23 on March 22, will assume the role of reserve driver (which consists of replacing the holders if they are sick or injured) during 11 of the 23 Grands Prix scheduled for next year, alternating with the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.
The bucket seats at Ferrari should not, however, be released immediately. The Monegasque pilot Charles Leclerc is engaged until the end of 2024. The Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr, he signed until the end of 2022, but “we will discuss during the winter of an extension of contract”, specified Binotto .
In 2022, completely new F1 cars will take to the track after an upheaval in technical regulations and Ferrari has devoted most of its resources this year to developing its own.
The single-seater has been designed with “a more open mind than before” and incorporates “a lot of innovations”, said Binotto, who remains however cautious about the prospects of the Scuderia.
“We can say that the project is following the planned course [et que] we are achieving our objectives, ”he says, but it is impossible to position yourself due to the lack of“ references ”on what we are doing at the other teams.
“We hope to be competitive and for me it’s being in a position to win races. Does that mean we can fight for the championship? As it stands, the gap is still significant [avec les écuries de pointe Mercedes et Red Bull], but it’s part of Ferrari’s DNA to be able to fight for leading positions and victories, ”concluded the engineer.