Marko: Schu Jr and Kimi will be Alfa’s drivers
Mick Schumacher has his own "character" says Max Verstappen.
Mick Schumacher will partner Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo next season, at least that’s according to Red Bull’s Helmut Marko.
Earlier this month reports emerged claiming that both Schumacher and Raikkonen had committed to Alfa Romeo for the 2021 season.
The Spanish media added that an announcement would be made on the Friday of the Eifel Grand Prix.
That, however, came and went without any word – except denials – from the drivers involved.
Marko, though, is confident it is only a matter of time before Alfa Romeo does confirm that Schumacher will be promoted to Formula 1 next season.
The German, he says, will partner Raikkonen in an “excellent combination” of young and old.
He told Sport1: “You can see which drivers are still on the market. I know who has called who.
“From this I gather that Mick Schumacher will drive together with Kimi Raikkonen for Alfa Romeo next year. I think it’s an excellent combination.
“If you look at the junior categories, he (Schumacher) always started modestly and then in the second year was in top form. You can assume that it will be the same in Formula 1.”
Get your hands on the official Alfa Romeo 2020 collection via the Formula 1 shop
Kimi with Mick #Kimi7 #KR7 #EifelGP pic.twitter.com/Uygm5cZkKs
— Raikkonen Indonesia (@KimsterIndo) October 9, 2020
In fact Marko revealed Schumacher also teamed up with Raikkonen at the Eifel Grand Prix weekend.
In a season where drivers are being regularly tested for Covid-19, Antonio Giovinazzi had an inconclusive test.
Alfa Romeo were considering putting Schumacher in the car if the Italian hadn’t been able to race.
“Giovinazzi had an unclear Corona-test result like Albon,” Marko said. ” Who knows, maybe Mick was even close to drive his first F1 race!”
But while Marko is convinced next year’s Alfa Romeo line up is set in stone, Raikkonen insists he has yet to decide if he’s even staying in Formula 1.
Speaking ahead of the Eifel GP weekend, he denied having taken up an option for a third season with Alfa Romeo.
“Nothing’s been decided so far,” Raikkonen said. “We’ll see.
“Obviously we have some talks with the team. It’s my decision in the end and we’ll see what it comes to.
“I never had an option in my contract so I can tell you that it’s not true.
“I haven’t signed anything last week, a month ago or yesterday or today, so we’ll see.”
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