Sebastian Vettel: Mick Schumacher deserves F1 seat in 2021

Sebastian Vettel is hopeful Mick Schumacher can find a full-time seat in Formula 1 for next season with the German set to drive for Alfa Romeo in first practice for this weekend’s Eifel Grand Prix.

Mick, who is the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, will get his first taste of 2020 F1 machinery at the Nurburgring this weekend in FP1. 

Schumacher currently leads the Formula 2 championship with just two rounds remaining and is heavily tipped to replace Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo next season.

With Schumacher set for his first official F1 outing on home soil, the spotlight will be on him rather than Germany’s current star, Vettel.

Vettel isn’t bothered about the attention not being on him this weekend and admits he hopes to see Schumacher make it into the sport in 2021.

“Well I think first of all I don’t care, second of all I think he deserves his shot this weekend,” Vettel said. “Hopefully, we see him not only tomorrow but hopefully another Friday this year and then hopefully in a car, in a race seat next year. 

“I think what I wish for him, obviously, he’s having a great season, he’s leading the Formula 2 championship and as I said, I hope he can seal a seat for next year. I think he’s a great kid, I really like him and I am sure he’s going to go a long way and do well. This is probably just a sort of kick-off for him.”

With rain expected throughout the weekend in Germany, Schumacher’s running in FP1 may be curtailed. 

Charles Leclerc believes Schumacher’s performance in FP1 tomorrow will be inconsequential as he’s proved himself in F2 this season.

“Well looking at the conditions of this weekend it’s probably not the easiest of debuts but speaking to him, I think every time he tried an F1 car or a new car it was always in the rain so it won’t change much for him,” Leclerc added.

“It’s going to be a tricky session but he doesn’t have to prove anything as he has proved everything he had to in F2 this season and I am sure he will do a great job tomorrow.

Fellow F2 driver and Ferrari junior Callum Ilott has also been handed an FP1 outing for Haas this weekend.