As the son of seven-time F1 Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher, it is fair to say that 22-year-old Mick Schumacher has a spotlight on him more than most. For many motorsport fans, they dream of the day when the young German takes up a place on the starting grid of an F1 race in the red of Scuderia Ferrari. Now, having been announced that Mick Schumacher will be a Scuderia Ferrari reserve driver next season (along with Antonio Giovinazzi) - that dream is a step closer.

Despite the fact that popular Italian racer Antonio Giovinazzi, lost his place at Swiss-based Alfa Romeo this year, he was not out of work for long as he secured a 2022 drive in Formula E with Dragon/Penske Autosport. The Italian will also be reserve driver in F1 for Scuderia Ferrari at 12 races of the 2022 F1 season. However, for the times when the schedule clashes with Formula E – this is when Mick Schumacher is available to be called on.

Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto reminded reporters that Mick Schumacher is a Ferrari driver whilst also announcing that the highly favoured son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, would be available to stand in at 11 of the 23 (at present) scheduled races in 2022.

‘Whenever he (Giovinazzi) will be at the race track he will be our reserve driver,’ said Binotto. ‘And as well he will be available to our customer teams, so both Haas and Alfa Romeo. For the remaining races, 11, races on which he will be not there, Mick Schumacher will be a reserve driver for Ferrari, which I think again is a great one because it will be his second season next year, he is a Ferrari driver coming from the driver academy. I’m very happy that he can be part of the team as a reserve driver whenever that will be necessary – hopefully not.”

Should the need arise for Mick Schumacher to step into the shoes of either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz, Haas already have their own reserve driver to choose from.

The American-owned team would be able to call on Brazilian racer Pietro Fittipaldi. A man who also has a legendary name to race under as a result of being grandson of two-time F1 Drivers’ World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. The young Brazilian would be in familiar surroundings having already taken a starting role at Haas twice at the end of 2020 after Romain Grosjean’s unforgettable accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Mattia Binotto also reflected on the way that Mick Schumacher had improved over the course of his rookie F1 season thereby earning a place in the reserve ranks of the Prancing Horse:

‘If I look at the last races, he was a lot closer to the cars ahead while Haas didn’t really develop the car at all,’ stated Binotto.

Mick Schumacher will continue to benefit from Ferrari’s wealth of resources and direction next year, as was made clear by Binotto in his pre-Christmas Press Conference:

“In 2021 he was followed by Ferrari engineers dedicated to the programme of Ferrari Driver Academy to support him in his development and that will continue next year.”

Former Scuderia Ferrari driver (not to mention 4-time F1 Drivers’ Champion) Sebastian Vettel was also asked recently to evaluate Mick Schumacher’s first season in the pinnacle of motorsport. In comments reported by Formula 1.com, Vettel said:

“I think it’s difficult to judge because the car was so far off. But for those who were looking closely…obviously I’ve been following and yes, I think he did an incredible job with such a poor car to reach Q2 a couple of times, to have strong showings in the race, fight some of the other cars that are much faster. That’s a great effort.

As for Antonio Giovinazzi, the Italian has already declared that he has not competed in his last F1 Grand Prix and intends to return to the starting grid. As such, Binotto highlighted the fact that Giovinazzi would have a full programme of simulator work to assist this mission.

‘There are I think 11 [F1] seats which will be free in 2023… 11 have contracts finishing at the end of 2022. So it is important for him as a driver to still be part of our F1 programme,’ he said.

Scuderia Ferrari have certainly showed signs of a resurgence after a season which saw them finish third overall - in comparison to 2020’s lowly sixth place - in the Constructors’ Standings.

However, in F1, money talks and is crucial for development and for a team noticeably without a title sponsor that may be a concern. Nevertheless, Binotto said talks were continuing with long-time partner Philip Morris International: ‘I think there are many opportunities on which we may cooperate with them, keeping them as partners. We have various options on the table at the moment and we are still talking with them.’

Even though many people would like to see Mick Schumacher in Scuderia Ferrari’s starting lineup, Mattia Binotto made clear that negotiations would soon start between the team and Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard had a strong season with four podiums and a finishing position of P5 in the Drivers’ Championship. Unsurprisingly, a contract extension is inevitable and one Binotto expects to be uncomplicated. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, despite only having a single podium in 2021, showed his pace on numerous occasions and already has a long-term contract with the team. Such a lineup is certain to delight the Tifosi as Scuderia Ferrari endeavour to return to their place at the front of F1.

Obviously, no one wants to see Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in a scenario which would mean they could not compete in a Formula One Grand Prix next year. Just like Mattia Binotto, we all hope that the services of Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher are not required.

Antonio Giovinazzi is certain to make his mark and be a fan’s favourite in Formula E, meanwhile, Mick Schumacher will keep going about his business with Haas in 2022. However, in the future, when the German racer’s inevitable time on the grid with Scuderia Ferrari does arrive, he may very well have a consistent race-winning car beneath him.

Such an opportunity would obviously come with more expectation and pressure but that is a conversation for another day. For now, Mick Schumacher has written another line in the Schumacher’s history with Scuderia Ferrari and we can be sure that there are still many more chapters to be written.  

https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/23596/f1-father-son-reflections-and-nice-moments