Schumacher Jnr racing towards Formula One career

MICK Schumacher has taken another stride towards following in his father’s famous footsteps by signing a deal to race in Formula One’s feeder series next year.

Mick, the son of seven-time world champion Michael, will make the move to Formula Two with Italian team Prema.

George Russell won the F2 title last weekend and will race in F1 for Williams next year, while fellow British driver Lando Norris, who finished runner-up, is graduating from the junior series with McLaren.

Schumacher Jnr, 19, impressed by winning eight times en route to clinching the Formula Three Championship with a race to spare.

He will now compete in F2 for a team which boasts Charles Leclerc as a former champion.

Leclerc, 21, is joining Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari next year after a strong rookie campaign with Sauber.

“I’m really looking forward to contesting my next season with Prema in FIA Formula 2,” Schumacher Jnr (below) said. “It is a logical step on my sporting path because I want to further improve my technical experience and driving skills.”

Schumacher Jnr was skiing in the French Alps with his father when he fell nearly five years ago.

Schumacher, who won a record 91 Grands Prix, is understood to be receiving round-theclock care at his home in Switzerland, but no information has been made public about his medical condition.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is a keen admirer of the career that Schumacher Jnr has forged, and believes the German could possess the talent to race for the Silver Arrows.

Wolff said: “Mick needs to continue his development and clock mileage, and then, eventually, if he stays on that development slope, he is going to be in F1, hopefully one day with us.

“He is a very nice kid, with very recent success, and with an incredible legacy on his shoulders. Carrying that name is more difficult than you can imagine.”

Schumacher Jnr will test for his new team in Abu Dhabi later this week.