Mick Schumacher joins the Ferrari driver academy

Mick Schumacher, the 19-year-old son of seven-time world champion Michael, has joined the Ferrari driver academy. For 2019 he will be competing his first season in Formula 2 with Prema, and part of being in the Ferrari driver academy is that he will drive in 2 tests during the 2019 season. 

The Ferrari academy has spawned numerous F1 drivers but it is by not a guarantee of a seat on the F1 grid. Charles Leclerc is their most current graduate but other former students include Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and also Jules Bianchi who died in 2015 from injuries sustained during the 2014 Japenese Grand Prix.

After he won the European Formula 3 championship Ferrari had reported that they were interested in Schumacher joining their academy and that they were talking to him about a place after he attended the post season test with them in Abu Dhabi last November.

"Mick, who will be racing in the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship, from next week will be taking part in the pre- season preparation activities with fellow FDA drivers," a statement from Ferrari read.

"The other 2019 FDA drivers are Giuliano Alesi and Callum Ilott, who will race in Formula 2 too, Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman, racing in FIA Formula 3, Enzo Fittipaldi, racing in FIA Formula Regional (Europe), and Gianluca Petecof in FIA Formula 4 (Italy and Germany)."

Schumacher added: "I am thrilled that Ferrari has entered a partnership with me and my next future in motorsport will be in red, being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and also of the Scuderia Ferrari Family," Schumacher said.

"Again, this is another step forward in the right direction, and I can only profit from the immense amount of expertise bundled there. Be sure I will make everything to extract whatever helps me achieve my dream, racing in Formula 1.

"It is more than obvious that Ferrari has a big place in my heart since I was born and also in the hearts of our family, so I am delighted on a personal level about this opportunity as well. At this stage it is however also time to say thank you to my family, friends and partners who supported me all along and helped me arrive at this point.”