Ferrari set to make F1 junior promotion decision before F2 Bahrain finale

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says it’s planning on deciding which of its junior drivers will be promoted into Formula 1 before the Formula 2 season finale in Bahrain which takes place next month.

Ferrari currently has three of its academy drivers - Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman - in the top five of the drivers’ championship with two rounds in Bahrain to go.

Schumacher leads the way in the F2 standings, 22 points clear of Ilott.

Schumacher was strongly rumoured to be moving to Alfa Romeo alongside Kimi Raikkonen but it confirmed that Antonio Giovinazzi would be remaining with the team into 2021 alongside the 2007 F1 world champion ahead of this weekend at Imola.

This leaves two seats at Haas, with one expected to be filled by heavily-backed Russian driver Nikita Mazepin.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Binotto said: "I don’t think we will wait for the final race in Bahrain and for Abu Dhabi. I think it’s something we may decide within the next couple of weeks."

Binotto confirmed there would be other opportunities for those who miss out on promotion into F1 in 2021.

"As you said there’s no place for all of them," Binotto added. "I think they are all doing well in F2 at the moment, considering Mick, Callum and Robert. They’ve got the season to finish. They’re all focused on the next race in Bahrain. They’re challenging for the championship which is very important for them. They will get an opportunity to run again in FP1 in Abu Dhabi and there are the young driver tests still in Abu Dhabi but we will make our own decision and the decision will be made on what they’ve done so far, how they’ve developed, their potential.

"Our objective isn’t to bring them into F1, it’s to bring them one day in the Scuderia Ferrari, in the red cars, and whatever the path will be to achieve it that’s less important. There will be eventually one of them who will have a seat in F1 next year, the other may have other opportunities but that’s down to us to organise it and to give them an opportunity."