Schumacher ready for “special” run in father’s 2004 F1 car

Mick Schumacher is expecting a “special” and “thrilling” experience when he gets the chance to complete a demonstration run in his father’s Ferrari F2004 Formula 1 car at Hockenheim.

Ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix, Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael, will drive his father’s title-winning car from the 2004 season for a special demo run.

With no Formula 2 round at Hockenheim, Schumacher - who currently sits 14th in the 2019 standings during his rookie campaign - can focus attentions on thrilling his home crowd in the car that took his father to his seventh and final world title triumph.

"I think it will be special," Schumacher said.

"I have a lot of good memories of Hockenheim, particularly from winning the Formula 3 European Championship there last year, and to drive this car around there on a Grand Prix weekend is pretty amazing.

"I’m already very excited. I just hope everybody will have as much fun as I will.

"Since the F2004 was such a dominant car it will be thrilling for me to find out how it feels to drive it," he added.

"It’s going to be exciting to experience the power of the engine, and I am very curious to understand how cars from that era feel on track."

Reigning European Formula 3 champion Schumacher, who is a Ferrari Driver Academy member, previously got to taste some of his father’s older F1 machinery at the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix, when he drove Michael’s 1994 Benetton B194 around Spa-Francorchamps.

"I would have loved to be able to do some preparation laps but unfortunately I just will have to wait and see," Schumacher explained.

"We’ll do a seat fitting on Saturday morning of the race weekend but I am sure it will work out fine.

"In the end, it will be demo-laps for pleasure, and I would really like to thank the owner of the car and Ferrari for giving me the opportunity."

Asked if he had any particular memories of his dad driving the F2004, Schumacher replied: “To be honest I don’t.

“Obviously I know what he achieved in the F2004 and that he won the German Grand Prix that year but I think I was too young to take it in.

“I’ve seen the highlights but I have to admit I don’t really have any memories of it. I more recall our races at home in the garden!”