Vasseur: "Schumacher has all hallmarks of a champion in the making"

Next Friday Mick Schumacher will debut in Formula 1. He will get into Antonio Giovinazzi's car during the free practice for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. To prepare him for that, he will practice tomorrow at the Fiorano circuit in Italy. Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman will also be getting into an F1 car, as Ilott also makes his debut next week and Shwartzman will be in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.

Collecting a lot of data

"I am overjoyed to get this chance in free practice," says Mick Schumacher to Formula1.com. "The fact that my first participation in a Formula 1 weekend will take place in front of my home audience at the Nurburgring makes this moment even more special."

"I would like to thank Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me the opportunity to get another taste of Formula 1 air one and a half years after our common test drive in Bahrain. For the next ten days I’m going to prepare myself well, so that I can do the best possible job for the team and gain some valuable data for the weekend."

A champion in the making

Fred Vasseur, Alfa Romeo's team boss, also had something to say about Schumacher's upcoming debut at a race weekend. Vasseur: "There is no doubt that Mick is one of the great talents coming through the feeder series’ ranks and his recent results have been showing it. He is obviously quick, but he is also consistent and mature behind the wheel – all hallmarks of a champion in the making."

Finally, Ilott, who will do the same but in a car of Haas. Ilott: "It’s a real privilege to get my first run in a free practice session, especially to do it with Haas F1 Team. It’s amazing to have this chance at a track that is one of my favourites – it was where I scored the first podium of my career back in 2015."