Schumacher to make F1 test debut for Ferrari

Mick Schumacher will make his Formula 1 test debut with Ferrari at next week’s post-Bahrain Grand Prix test. 

Ferrari confirmed its driver line-up for the first in-season test of the 2019 season on Tuesday morning, with Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael, to get his first taste of driving modern-day F1 machinery on the opening day of running on Tuesday with Ferrari. 

The European Formula 3 champion, who was signed up as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy over the winter, will then drive for Alfa Romeo on the second and final day of the test in Sakhir. 

Schumacher will also be making his Formula 2 debut with Prema at Bahrain this weekend at the opening round of the 2019 season. 

“I am obviously more than excited and would like to thank Ferrari for giving me this opportunity,” Schumacher said. 

“I am really looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great experience. But for the moment, I am consciously putting all thoughts of the test to one side, because I am also very much looking forward to competing in my first F2 race and would like to focus a hundred percent on the weekend to come.”

Ferrari also announced that fellow F2 driver and Ferrari Academy member Callum Ilott will make his F1 test debut with Alfa Romeo at the second in-season test in Barcelona on May 14-15. 

The 20-year-old Briton is making his F2 debut this year with the Charouz-run Sauber Junior Team, having finished third in the 2018 GP3 standings. 

“We are firm believers in the value of the Ferrari Driver Academy, as a high level training programme for talented youngsters and the decision to give Charles Leclerc a race seat with our team is proof of that," said Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto.

“We are therefore very pleased to be able to give Mick and Callum the opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car. 

“Mick, who joined the FDA in January, and Callum, who has been with us since 2017, are definitely drivers on their way up and I believe that driving the SF90 in an official setting such as the tests in Bahrain and Barcelona can be very useful at this stage in their career.”

Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur added: “We are very pleased to announce that Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will each complete a rookie test day for Alfa Romeo Racing.

"It is in our team’s DNA to spot and nurture young talents. Mick and Callum are perfect examples of determined and skilled racers who deserve to be given the chance to take the next steps in their careers.

"Collaborating with two such promising drivers is great news for our team, and we look forward to working together.”

Sebastian Vettel will complete Ferrari’s run programme on Wednesday in Bahrain, while Alfa Romeo is yet to confirm who will drive on the first day.