Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racing have confirmed Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott to drive their cars in the Bahrain’s in-season F1 test.
Schumacher will make his F1 debut next week after the end of the Bahrain GP with both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo in 2019’s first in-season test at Bahrain International Circuit – which FormulaRapida.net reported on.
While it will be his first F1 drive but it won’t be a grand prix weekend debut just yet. The two-day test will take place on April 2-3 in Bahrain with Schumacher driving Ferrari on Tuesday (April 2) and for Alfa Romeo on Wednesday (April 3).
With this, it will be the first time for a Schumacher in a F1 car in an official event since the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP when Michael last drove for Mercedes. “I am obviously more than excited and would like to thank Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racing for giving me this opportunity,” said Schumacher.
“I am really looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great experience. But for the moment, I am consciously putting all thoughts of the test to one side, because I am also very much looking forward to competing in my first F2 race and would like to focus a hundred percent on the weekend to come.”
In addition, fellow Ferrari junior Callum Ilott also gets his first F1 chance. The British racer will drive the Alfa Romeo’s C38 for a day in the second in-season test at Barcelona, post the Spanish GP weekend in May.
Both the Ferrari Driver Academy drivers are getting ready for their first FIA Formula 2 Championship weekend in Bahrain. While Schumacher will race with Prema Team, Ilott is competing with Sauber Junior Team by Charouz.
“We are very pleased to announce that Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will each complete a rookie test day for Alfa Romeo Racing,” said Frederic Vasseur. “It is in our team’s DNA to spot and nurture young talents.
“Mick and Callum are perfect examples of determined and skilled racers who deserve to be given the chance to take the next steps in their careers. Collaborating with two such promising drivers is great news for our team, and we look forward to working together.”
On the other hand, Mattia Binotto said: “We are firm believers in the value of the Ferrari Driver Academy, as a high level training programme for talented youngsters and the decision to give Charles Leclerc a race seat with our team is proof of that.
“We are therefore very pleased to be able to give Mick and Callum the opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car. Mick, who joined the FDA in January, and Callum, who has been with us since 2017, are definitely drivers on their way up.
“I believe that driving the SF90 in an official setting such as the tests in Bahrain and Barcelona can be very useful at this stage in their career.” Ferrari also confirmed that Sebastian Vettel will drive on Day 2 of the Bahrain test.
Here’s Schumacher on learning from Ferrari and comparisons to his father
