Vettel: Mick Schumacher deserves Ferrari F1 test 

Sebastian Vettel says Mick Schumacher is fully deserving of his maiden Formula 1 test outing for Ferrari in Bahrain. 

Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael, is in action for Ferrari on the opening day of the post-Bahrain Grand Prix in-season test, in what marks his first experience of driving modern-day F1 machinery. 

The reigning European Formula 3 champion has stepped up to Formula 2 this year with Prema and sits eighth in the drivers’ standings after the opening round in Bahrain.

“Obviously with the name and being the son of Michael there are certainly some links and expectations, but to end up in Formula 1 you need to prove that you have the speed,” Vettel said when asked about Schumacher’s test. 

“So far he has done really well. I think the way he has developed in the last years deserves where he is now, and now we should give him the time and peace to do his job. 

"Which I think is not easy as it is for him, but on the other hand I think he is used to it. So we will see, but for sure there is a big excitement.”

A Schumacher. A Ferrari. @SchumacherMick drives out for the first time for @ScuderiaFerrari #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/xGnrYBCUsr

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2019

The 20-year-old was also signed up to Ferrari’s Driver Academy last winter following his championship success in European F3. 

Asked whether he ever imagined Schumacher driving for Ferrari before, Vettel replied: “No! I wasn’t, because he was a child. 

“At that point I think he’d just started racing and I wasn’t really following. I think it’s impossible to know.”