Mick Schumacher has secured the final Haas seat on the 2021 grid, completing the American team’s line-up.
He becomes the third driver of the Schumacher name to race in Formula 1, following in the ranks of his seven-time F1 world champion father Michael, and uncle Ralf.
The 21-year-old currently leads the Formula 2 championship with one round remaining. His performances this season means he was long rumoured to join the F1 fraternity after two seasons in the second-tier series.
Schumacher will join Russian driver and fellow F2 graduate Nikita Mazepin at Haas, with the duo replacing the outgoing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.
“The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly happy and I’m simply speechless,” said Schumacher.
“I would like to thank Haas F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari Driver Academy for placing their trust in me. I also want to acknowledge and extend my love to my parents – I know that I owe them everything.
“I have always believed that I would realise my dream of Formula 1. A huge thank you must also go to all the great motorsport fans out there who have supported me throughout my career. I will give it my all, as I always do, and I look forward to going on this journey together with Haas F1 and them.”
Schumacher is a long-term Ferrari driver and makes the step up to what is essentially the Scuderia’s ‘B’ team.
He will have his first running for the team in an FP1 session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, followed by the official post-season test.
“I’m very pleased that we’re able to confirm Mick Schumacher in our driver line-up for next season and I look forward to welcoming him into the team,” said Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner.
“The Formula 2 Championship has long served as a proving ground for talent to showcase their credentials and this year’s field has undoubtedly been one of the most competitive in recent seasons. Mick has won races, collected podiums and excelled against some pretty exceptional talent in 2020.
“I firmly believe he’s earned the opportunity to graduate into Formula 1 based on his performances. We have an opportunity ahead of us, as a team, to evaluate and nurture a new driver given our familiarity with our race package heading into 2021.
“We are putting in place our building blocks for the continued long-term growth of the team and I look forward to Mick’s contributions both on and off the track in that process.”
Schumacher was slated to make his F1 weekend debut with Alfa Romeo at the Eifel GP at the Nurburgring in October before inclement weather cancelled the day’s running.
His current F2 teammate Robert Shwartzman was another Ferrari junior in the running for a promotion to F1. However, the ex-Toyota Racing Series champion is now set to remain at Prema alongside Oscar Piastri for the 2021 F2 season.