Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s son is promoted from Formula 2 next season, where he can claim the title this weekend; Mick Schumacher has signed a multi-year contract and will be a teammate of Nikita Mazepin in the all-new Haas Junior lineup.
Written by Matt Morledge
Last update: 12/2/20 8:20 AM
Mick Schumacher joins the 2021 Formula 1 network, with Haas confirming that the German Nikita Mazepin will participate in a new group of drivers.
The long-awaited announcement means Schumacher’s name will return to Formula 1 after a nine-year absence. Michael, Mick’s father, won seven world titles during a legendary career that ended in 2012.
Schumacher will make his Haas debut – and his Formula 1 weekend – in training on Friday at the Abu Dhabi Athletics Prize next week. He would then drive the VF-20 in the young driver’s test in the same circuit the following Tuesday.
The Mazpin deal was announced on Tuesday.
“The prospect of being in the Formula 1 network next year makes me incredibly happy and I’m simply speechless,” said Schumacher, who has signed a multi-year deal.
“I would like to thank the Haas F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari Driver Academy for putting their trust in me. I would also like to confess my parents and express my love – I know I owe them everything. I always believed in that. I will fulfill my dream in Formula 1.”
“Thank you very much. You should address all the great motorsport fans who have supported me throughout my career. I will give my all, as I always do, and I look forward to continuing this journey with and with the Haas F1.”
Mick will aim to follow in his father’s successful footsteps, and he showed a lot of promise when he was young. He currently leads the Formula 2 Championship with one round remaining, having already won Formula 3 – while also being part of Ferrari’s Young Driver Program, with Michael receiving six of his seven Crowns.
Schumacher, who could conclude the F2 title this weekend in Bahrain, and Mazepin, will replace Roman Grogan and Kevin Magnussen on the US team.
5:53 A very special moment as Mick Schumacher introduces Lewis Hamilton with one of his father’s helmets after the Briton tied the record for winning a Formula 1
Haas is a Scuderia drive partner, and thus, after confirming the joint exit of Grosjean and Magnussen, they were always likely to take at least one Ferrari-backed star.
Team leader Guenter Steiner said: “Mick won races, podiumed and excelled against some exceptional talent in 2020.
“I firmly believe he got a chance to graduate to Formula 1 based on his performance. We have an opportunity, as a team, to rate and sponsor a new driver given that we know our racing package in 2021.
1:17 Martin Brandle sat with Mick Schumacher before what should have been his first Formula One training in the Eiffel GP with Alfa Romeo
“We are laying our own building blocks for the team’s continued long-term growth and I look forward to Mick’s contributions both on and off the track in this process.”
Schumacher will partner with Mazepin, the Russian driver who is only 20 days old from Mick. Mazepin has racked up two F2 wins this season and is currently in third place, while he has completed F1 Test days in the past with Racing Point and Mercedes.
CONFIRMED 2021 FORMULA 1 GRID …
Mercedes: TBC and Valtteri Bottas
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and TBC
Aston Martin: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll
McLaren: Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris
Reno: Fernando Alonso and Esteban Okon
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
AlphaTauri: Pierre Gasly and TBC
Alfa Romeo: Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi
Haas: Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazpin
Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi
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