Mick Schumacher finally got to make his official practice debut in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.  

The Formula 2 Champion of 2020 had been due to take part in FP1 at the Eifel Grand Prix with Alfa Romeo in October but didn't get to drive due to adverse conditions.  

Schumacher completed 23 laps on his way to clocking the 18th fastest time of the session, just over 0.2s behind Nicholas Latifi in the Williams. 

“Everything went well,” said Schumacher. “I’m really happy about how the session went. No major issues on either side so I’m really happy." 

The 21-year-old was asked to give feedback on anything he noticed during the session despite his lack of time in an F1 car to this point.   

“I might not have experience in an F1 car as much as some other people do. Nevertheless, I’ve been told it’s good to give good feedback on anything I do notice. So from that part I think everything went well. It was a hell of a ride; it was really fun and great to be back in a Formula 1 car.” 

Schumacher also got to grips with high fuel runs and practice starts in the VF-20 as he tried to get to grips with a number of aspects in Formula 1.  

“The high-fuel run was quite different to everything I have done before,” he said. “Up to now I’ve only driven an F1 car on low fuel. So it definitely was valuable information, the time in the car, trying to feel how much can I brake at the same spot, how much can I still push on those soft tyres too. 

“The practice start [also] went really well for what was my first actual practice start in an F1 car. So I’m definitely very happy.” 

He admitted to going slightly over the edge at times as he was trying to find the limits in the car.  

“Obviously you have to sometimes go over the limit to feel where the limit is. To me, it was more about trying little things.” 

Schumacher also added that was he trying different styles of driving during the 90-minute session as he looks forward to the junior drivers' test on Tuesday. 

“It was just really trying to see what the car could still do. And then other moments were just me trying some different features on driving style but also on the car itself. 

“I’m sure that I’ll find my way through much, much easier and also be able to maybe go more over the limit to try and find it [better] in the junior drive [test] on Tuesday. 

A special day for @SchumacherMick 🙌

Fog prevented him running at October's Eifel Grand Prix but it was blue skies all the way at Yas Marina as the newly-crowned F2 champion tasted FP1 track action for the first time 🙌 #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/YpNzn6LCcr

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020