Mick Schumacher, son of Ferrari great and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, has paid an emotional tribute to his father after it was revealed the 21-year-old will be on the Formula 1 grid next year. Mick, who’s currently leading the Formula 2 championships, signed with the US-owned Haas team on Wednesday.
The up-and-coming racing driver said he’s overwhelmed to follow in his father’s footsteps, 7News reports.
“It is amazing to be racing in the same sport as he did,” he said. “It is a sport we both love so much, so to be able to go [down] a similar path and get to know the sport inside out is amazing.
“To finally reach my goal and be one of those 20 drivers is something incredible. I am just really overwhelmed, happy it is confirmed and that I am going to be standing on the grid next year.
“It is a dream come true for me, a dream I’ve been chasing since I was three, and now it’s finally happened it’s great.”
To mark the milestone, Mick also shared an adorable video to Instagram of himself as a toddler sitting in a race car as his dad Michael watches on.
Motorsport fans found the video heartwarming, with one writing, “OK. Now I’m crying.”
Others congratulated the 21-year-old on his achievement. One wrote, “Glad to see Schumacher’s name back in F1.” Another commented, “Can’t wait to see you in Melbourne mate. Absolutely epic. You did it. And your dad is so bloody proud of you. Man, I am so proud of you.”
Michael has not been seen in public for almost seven years after suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in late December 2013. At the time, the Formula 1 driver was placed in a medically induced coma for six months. Since then, information about the athlete’s health has not been confirmed and his family rarely issue updates or statements about his condition.
A few weeks ago, however, Michael’s close friend and former boss shared a rare health update on the retired racing driver’s condition. Speaking to French radio network RTL in November, Jean Todt, who was team principle at Ferrari during five of Michael’s seven titles, revealed he visits Michael every month.
“This is a question on which I am going to be extremely reserved,” he said. “I see Michael very often: once or twice a month. My answer is the same all the time: he fights. We can only wish for him and his family that things get better.”