Schumacher, Ilott given FP1 chance at Eifel GP

Jon Wilde
Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will be given opportunities to stake their claim for 2021 F1 race seats in FP1 for the Eifel Grand Prix.

The two Ferrari Academy drivers are to participate in Friday morning practice at the Nurburgring on October 9 with Schumacher in the Alfa Romeo and Ilott in the Haas.

Schumacher, son of Michael, the seven-time World Champion, currently leads the F2 Championship and will take over in the practice session from Antonio Giovinazzi.

Reports have suggested that move could become permanent in 2021, with Schumacher jnr potentially becoming the Alfa Romeo team-mate of a man at the opposite end of his F1 career, Kimi Raikkonen.

Britain’s Ilott, meanwhile, will step into the Haas but it has yet to be revealed whether he will replace Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen on the Friday morning at the Nurburgring.

Haas have yet to confirm any drivers for 2021 and are believed to be considering several options.

For Schumacher, it will be a debut in an official F1 race weekend practice session, although he did test for Alfa Romeo and Ferrari last year.

“I’m overjoyed to get this chance,” said the 21-year-old. “The fact my first participation in a Formula 1 weekend will take place in front of my home audience at the Nürburgring makes this moment even more special.

“I would like to thank Alfa Romeo and the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me the opportunity to get another taste of Formula 1 one-and-a-half years after our common test drive in Bahrain.

“For the next 10 days I will prepare myself well so I can do the best possible job for the team and gain some valuable data for the weekend.”

Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will be given opportunities to stake their claim for 2021 F1 race seats in FP1 for the Eifel Grand Prix.
Callum Ilott

Get your hands on the official Alfa Romeo 2020 collection via the Formula 1 shop

Ilott, also 21 and from Cambridge, has won three F2 races this year and sits second behind Schumacher in the championship standings.

“It’s a real privilege to get my first run in a free practice session, especially to do it with Haas,” said Ilott.

“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.

“The Nürburgring means a lot to me and is a track with a real heritage, so it’s great that I’ll have my first outing at a Formula 1 race weekend there.

“Thanks to Haas F1 and to the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me such a great opportunity. It should be really fun and exciting. I plan to make the most of it – I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

It was also announced that a third Ferrari Academy driver, Robert Shwartzman, will make his FP1 debut at Abu Dhabi later this year.

In preparation for their outings, all three will drive Ferrari’s 2018 car at Fiorano on Wednesday.

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page