Ferrari’s door ‘always open’ for Mick Schumacher

Editor
Ferrari's door 'always open' for Mick Schumacher

Ferrari's door 'always open' for Mick Schumacher

Ferrari chief Maurizio Arrivabene has said “the door is always open” for Mick Schumacher but he does not want him to be rushed into Formula 1.

The son of the legendary seven-time World Champion, Michael, has hit a real purple patch in F3, winning six out of the last 10 races including a hat-trick of victories at the Nurburgring.

The very impressive run of form led to rumours that Toro Rosso were adding him to their ever-lengthening shortlist for the 2019 season, but Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko denied that was the case.

Ferrari have now said that Mick Schumacher would always be open to having him in the team, but Arrivabene wants him to continue on his development path through the ranks before a potential Formula 1 drive comes onto the horizon.

“Concerning Mick Schumacher I think the most important thing is to let him grow, without giving pressure,” Arrivabene said. “The recent results are very, very good, and I wish to him a great career.

“With a name like this, that wrote historical pages of Ferrari history, the door of Maranello is always open, of course. But without burning the step.

“That is a family decision, I mean a Schumacher family decision.

“But let the guys have fun. I always repeat this – be focussed, concentrated, but in the meantime have fun, and to grow slowly, but certainly, and then we’ll see about the future.

“How can you can say ‘no’ at Maranello to a name like this?”

Schumacher, currently second in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, would be eligible for a superlicence to race in Formula 1 if he finished within the first three of the standings at the end of the season.

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.