Mick Schumacher didn’t exactly have the best first Formula 1 season – but very few drivers do. Regardless of how extremely unrivaled the Haas F1 cars were in 2021, the personable German managed to outperform his teammate Nikita Mazepin and deliver respectable results to maintain his image of F1’s Next Big Thing. This achievement is already paying off, as Schumacher has been confirmed as one of two Ferrari reserve drivers for 2022. And in the age of COVID, that could mean a potential Ferrari Formula 1 debut as early as next year.
According to Racer, team boss Mattia Binotto shared his thoughts on his two reserve drivers for 2022. This shortlist consists of Schumacher and the recently dismissed Antonio Giovinazzi, who will also start in Formula E next year. Due to Giovinazzi’s commitments, the Italian will only be the active reserve driver for 12 races, while Schumacher will fill in for the remaining 11 races in 2022.
“As far as the substitute drivers are concerned, Antonio Giovinazzi will of course not drive in Formula 1 next year, but he will remain our substitute driver for 2022,” said Binotta, as Racer reports. “He will be our reserve driver for 12 races, which is compatible with his Formula E calendar, which he decided to move to and which we are happy (about) because that will train him. And he will also be available to our customer teams, both Haas and Alfa Sauber, so that whenever he’s on the track, he’s available to our customer teams. “
“For our remaining 11 races, Mick will be the reserve driver for Ferrari, which I think is a great (role). It’s his second season next year, he’s a Ferrari driver coming from the academy. We are very happy that he can be part of the team as a reserve driver if this is necessary – hopefully not, ”added Binotto.
Of course, we don’t want anything bad to happen to Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz (who has not yet given up his contract with Scuderia), but should something go wrong or one of them test positive for COVID-19 during a racing weekend, it would Schumacher to his Ferrari F1 debut in the coming season.
Schumacher has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy for several years and has been closely associated with the Maranello team since his Formula 2 days. As the son of a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Schumacher’s surname has undoubtedly opened doors, but it would be a mistake to say he didn’t deserve his success in motorsport.
After winning the F2 championship in 2020, Schumacher was promoted to the Haas F1 team, which is a Ferrari customer team. This enabled Maranello to further shape, train and develop the young German without enduring conflicts of interest with rival teams.
“Mick is part of our Ferrari Driver Academy, which means that we will continue to coach him as a driver,” said Binotto. “He was followed in 2021 by Ferrari engineers who devoted themselves to our program to support him in its development and this will continue for the next year.
“The simulator will be available to him in Maranello, but we have a whole program (on site) as part of our academy. Part of our goal is to continuously develop them as drivers because the ultimate goal is one day when they can prove that they are a Ferrari driver. “
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