LIKE FATHER ...LIKE SON!
Mick lives up to the Schumacher name with Formula Three crown
MICHAEL Schumacher’s son Mick edged closer to emulating his legendary father by winning the Formula Three European title in Germany on Saturday.
Schumacher Jnr, 19, finished second in the season’s penultimate race at Hockenheim to secure his first junior series with an unbeatable 347-point lead.
His championship success grants him a ‘super licence’ to race in Formula One but he is far more likely to take the next step up the ladder — Formula Two — before, he hopes, adding to the 13 father-son combinations to make it into the top category.
Such was the expectation he carried into his young career that he started racing as ‘Mick Betsch’, using his mother Corinna’s maiden name, rather than invite comparisons with his seven-time world champion father.
But now the motor racing community is sitting up and taking notice of him regardless of his name.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: ‘Attention was focused on the youngster right from the start and he was under a lot of pressure.
‘It’s not easy coping with all that, especially if the season does not get off to the best of starts, as happened in this case.
‘His performance in the second half of the season was, therefore, all the more impressive. He’s shown he has what it takes and he can become one of the greats in our sport.’
A big claim, and possibly premature in its optimism.
But many will hope for the best, not least given how poignant Mick’s story is. As a 14-year-old, he was skiing with his father on the French Alps when Michael suffered the life-changing head injuries that leave him stricken to this day at home in Switzerland. Mick has called Michael, who won the German F3 title in 1990 en route to greater pinnacles, his role model.
Mick took his F3 title after eight victories in 12 races, starting in Spa, of all places, where his father made his F1 debut for Jordan and won his first grand prix a year later for Benetton, one of his record six triumphs at the Belgian track.
Mick said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted. What the team have achieved over the last year is astonishing. I still can’t quite believe it.’
The family have imposed a total omerta over Michael’s health situation. Nothing at all reliable has permeated the strict confines of his house in Switzerland, where he is believed to be receiving round-the-clock care.
Mick’s title comes a year after he was placed 12th in his debut F3 campaign. Gerhard Berger, a former Ferrari driver and boss of the German Touring Car Championship, said: ‘Mick has the racing genes of Michael. If he can continue to deliver performances like these, he’ll find his way into F1.’
In a rare interview a few months ago, Mick told the BBC: ‘The goal is to win in F1. My dad had a huge influence on my career.
‘My name opened doors, but you still have to show what you can do. I want to prove that I am a proper racing driver.’
Only two fathers and sons have both won F1 titles, Graham and Damon Hill and Keke and Nico Rosberg. So far.