Mick Schumacher Recruited By The Haas Team To Enliven Formula 1 Next Year

Mick Schumacher (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Haas F1 team confirmed Wednesday that they have recruited German Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, as their rider for next year's Formula 1 on a multi-year contract.

Schumacher, 21, is a member of the Ferrari Riders Academy and currently leads the Formula 2 standings ahead of the final draw in Bahrain this weekend.

"I am very happy we can confirm Mick Schumacher into our lineup for next season and I look forward to his arrival in this team," said team head Haas Guenther Steiner as quoted by Antara on the team's official website.

"The Formula 2 world championships have long been a proving ground for talents to demonstrate their credentials and this year's competition has undoubtedly been one of the most competitive of recent seasons.

"Mick has won races, collected podiums and excelled against some amazing talent in 2020.

"I firmly believe he deserves the opportunity to pass to Formula 1 based on his performance," said Steiner.

One day ago, Haas also announced the recruitment of Russian Formula 2 racer Nikita Mazepin who will be Schumacher's partner next year.

Schumacher will join Haas with six years of experience racing in open-wheel racing.

Starting his career in the 2015 German ADAC F4 series, Schumacher advanced to the Formula 3 world championship, winning the title in 2018 thanks to eight wins.

He joined the Ferrari Drivers' Academy in 2019 when he made his Formula 2 debut.

Schumacher had his first taste of a Formula 1 car in April last season, while assisting Ferrari and Alfa Romeo in a two-day pre-season test session in Bahrain.

"The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me very happy and I am speechless," said Schumacher.

"I would like to thank the Haas F1 team, Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari Drivers' Academy for trusting me.

"I also want to convey my love for my parents, I know that I owe everything to them.

"I always believed I would make my dreams come true in Formula 1.

Mick will become the third member of the Schumacher family to race in Formula 1 after his father, Michael and uncle Ralf, who won six of the 180 races between 1997 and 2007.

Meanwhile, Michael collected 91 Grand Prix trophies and is in second place in the list of riders with the most wins after Lewis Hamilton.