Mick Schumacher ‘100 per cent certain’ to race in Formula One as German teenager returns to the 2018 Macau Grand Prix
- Lewis Hamilton says the name Schumacher is guaranteed to be back in F1
- The 19-year-old racer returns to the Guia circuit as the Euro F3 champion
Newly crowned Formula Three Euro champion Mick Schumacher will return to the Macau Grand Prix next month looking to complete unfinished business in what is likely to be his last appearance in the famous race before he moves to the big time.
The son of legendary Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, the German teenager will have another crack on the tricky and twisting 6.2km Guia circuit before his expected move to Formula Two next season – with the prospect of racing in Formula One in the near future “a certainty” according to Britain’s Lewis Hamilton.
“Happy to be driving for SJM Theodore Racing by Prema In Macau – really look forward to it,” tweeted Schumacher as he gets ready to line up in the 28-car field for the November 18 race.
The 19-year-old will partner all four of his 2018 Euro Formula Three season race-winning team at Prema Powerteam, which is supported by Teddy Yip Jnr, son of Macau Grand Prix godfather Teddy Yip Snr.
And like last year when he made his Macau debut, young Schumacher will be out to emulate father Michael and uncle Ralf, who both won in Macau in 1990 and 1995 respectively.
Mick Schumacher ended the Formula Three season with a stunning run of six wins from eight races to clinch the Euro championship by 57 points. With teams already clamouring to sign Schumacher in Formula One, Hamilton believes the name Schumacher will return to the highest level of the sport.
“There will 100 per cent be a Schumacher back in Formula One, partly because of the name, but secondly because he’s doing a great job,” the Briton said at the Circuit of the Americas, where the Mercedes ace hopes to move a step closer to winning a fifth F1 title at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
“He’s obviously got a lot of talent as his dad had, just like Keke and Nico [Rosberg], just like when Fernando has kids I’m sure an Alonso will be here again.”
Hamilton felt any eventual offspring of his would be able to make it to Formula One on the basis of his name, even if not that good, but Schumacher did have talent.
“He’s doing a really great job and he’s a really great kid as well,” he said. “He’s been a part of our team on a couple of weekends, I think it was last year, very attentive. He’s got a great talent as his dad had, so I don’t think it will be a burden in my personal opinion. I think it could be great for the sport.”
Schumacher will also be out to improve on his disappointing 16th place in Macau last year when he crashed into a barrier at Lisboa before gearbox problems put paid to his chances. He will be in his Mercedes-powered Dallara for Macau with another year’s experience in Formula Three under his belt and intimate knowledge of the Guia track.
The German will also renew his rivalry with Britain’s Daniel Ticktum, of Motopark Academy, who will be out to make it back-to-back Macau victories. Ticktum finished runner-up to Schumacher for the Formula Three Euro title. Also competing in Macau will be All-Japan Formula 3 Championship title winner Sho Tsuboi.
Additional reporting by Reuters
