Schumacher delighted to be selected as part of Ferrari Development Academy

Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael, has officially joined Ferrari’s young driver programme.

The reigning European Formula 3 champion was expected to become part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and this has now been confirmed. Ferrari also announced he will be joined by fellow F2 racers Callum Ilott and Giuliano Alesi, plus Marcus Armstrong, Robert Shwartzman, Enzo Fittipaldi and Gianluca Petecof.

New team principal of Ferrari, Mattia Binotto, was an engineer at the Maranello team when Michael Schumacher enjoyed his run of five straight titles from 2000 to 2004.

Binotto said: “For someone like me who has known him from birth, there’s no doubt that welcoming Mick into Ferrari has a special emotional meaning.

“But we have chosen him for his talent and the human and professional qualities that have already distinguished him.”

Schumacher said he was “thrilled” to join Ferrari because of the family link as well as the team’s success and history.

“It is more than obvious that Ferrari has a big place in my heart since I was born and also in the hearts of our family,” said Schumacher.

The move will likely give Schumacher, who is preparing to race in Formula 2 this season, his first mileage in a contemporary F1 car during one of the in-season tests.

The FDA’S 2019 line-up means juniors Antonio Fuoco and Guan Yu Zhou no longer feature. Zhou has moved to Renault where he will be a development driver.