Mick has potential to succeed Schumacher — Alex Yoong
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former Formula One (F1) driver, Alex Yoong believes Mick Schumacher would become a successful F1 racer in the future, to continue his father’s legacy in motorsports.
Yoong said the son of the record seven times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher has the potential to achieve success after signing up with Prema Powerteam to race in the F3 European Championship next season as step towards the F1.
“Well Mick has already shown some talent and that’s not surprising considering who his father is. He is obviously marketable and has funding so the ingredients are all there.
“Also he is with one of the best F3 teams around so I would say his chances of success are high. Not Max Verstappen high, but certainly good enough for a very bright future indeed,” Yoong, who raced for Minardi F1 team in 2001 and 2002 told Bernama.
The 17-year- old is expected to drive the Dallara-Mercedes with Prema in 2017, after emerging as the runnerup in both the German and Italian F4 championships this year with the Italian team.
The German is also leading the ongoing 2016/ 17 MRF Chal lenge Formula 2000 with 102 points after winning two of the eight races in the first two rounds at Bahrain and Dubai.
Another two rounds consist of four races each and would be held in Delhi and Chennai respectively in Jan and Feb next year.
The move takes him closer to the F1, as F4 and F3 serve as the career ladder for the most prestigious single-seat car racing, creating a bridge for budding drivers from karting into F2 and F1.
With the strong links between Prema and Ferrari Driver Academy, Mick’s pathway into F1 is a good progress after starting his motorsport career through karting in 2008.
His father Michael is regarded as ‘statistically the greatest driver’ of F1, owning numerous records in the sport, including the most number of world championship titles, winning two with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 and five consecutive titles with Ferrari from 2000-2004.
However, the legendary driver is still in the recovery process after sustaining serious brain injuries during a ski accident at the French Alps in Dec 2013. — Bernama