The Pit Stop: Has Mick Schumacher got Haas F1 drive on name or merit?

The Schumacher name will return to the Formula 1 grid next season with the news that Mick Schumacher will drive for Haas.

The 21-year-old German has signed a “multi-year contract” with the American team and will graduate to F1 from Formula 2 next year to follow in the footsteps of his father, seven-time world champion Michael.

A mightily consistent 2020 campaign has put Schumacher on the verge of clinching the F2 crown in his sophomore season, with the Ferrari junior heading into this weekend’s finale in Bahrain holding a 14-point advantage over nearest rival Callum Ilott with a maximum of 48 points on offer.

SEE ALSO: Schumacher explains choice of race number 47 for debut F1 season

Schumacher will partner fellow F2 rival Nikita Mazepin at Haas after the US squad opted to replace Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen with an all-rookie line-up for 2021.

Schumacher’s promotion will see his famous family name return to the F1 grid for the first time in nine years.

His father, Michael, raced in F1 between 1996 and 2006, and again in 2010-2012.

Schumacher most famously won five consecutive drivers’ world titles with Ferrari between 1999-2004, adding to his previous two world championship successes at Benetton won in 1994 and 1995.

After finishing runner-up to Renault’s Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006, Schumacher retired from F1, before a shock return to the series followed in 2010 with Mercedes.

With Schumacher in pole position to win the F2 title and make the step up to F1, we consider whether his promotion is the result of his famous family name, or achievement and merit. 

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