Schumacher name tipped to return to Formula 1 in 2021

After an eight-year hiatus, Formula 1 could have a Schumacher competing in 2021, with Mick, Michael’s son, having been tipped to land with Alfa Romeo.

Despite a number of recent driver confirmations, there is still plenty up in the air in terms of the 2021 Formula 1 driver lineup, and two of the seats without confirmed drivers for next year are at Alfa Romeo Racing.

Alfa Romeo, one of three of the sport’s 10 teams that have yet to confirm who will drive either one of their two cars for next year, currently employ 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and second-year driver Antonio Giovinazzi.

Ferrari have the right to select one of the team’s two drivers each year, and Giovinazzi has been their selection for each of the last two seasons after Charles Leclerc left the team to replace Raikkonen at the Scuderia.

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But there is mounting doubt that the 27-year-old Italian will be their selection for next year, so even if Raikkonen, who is slated to become the sport’s all-time most experienced driver later this month, renews his deal with the team, a seat will likely be open and Ferrari will go with one of the 21-year-olds in their Driver Academy who are currently competing in Formula 2.

The leader of that trio, which includes Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman, is Mick Schumacher. Through 20 races of the 2020 season, the German driver has been victorious twice and recorded an additional eight podium finishes to vault himself to the lead of the driver standings ahead of Ilott in second place (three wins, two additional podium finishes) and Shwartzman in fourth (three wins, one additional podium finish).

The trio are so close in terms of their talent and skillsets, and if Alfa Romeo are forced to choose one — or even choose two of the three — there is little doubt who will get the nod.

Here is what former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, Mick’s uncle, had to say about his nephew recently in an interview with Sky Sport.

"“Mick is well on his way to Formula 1. I have always said that it is important for Mick to always be in the top three. Now he’s won too, is always one of the fastest and leads the championship. His learning curve over the year is very promising. Accordingly, I cannot imagine that Mick won’t drive Formula 1 next year. One thing is certain: he definitely has what it takes to drive F1 next year.”"

While a case could easily be made for any one of Schumacher, Ilott or Shwartzman, the fact that it’s such a close battle makes it especially hard to make a case against the 2018 Formula 3 European champion, of all drivers, given his family ties to the sport.

Even if a seat at Alfa Romeo doesn’t work out, Schumacher is reportedly seen as a strong candidate to replace one of the two pending free agents, Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, at the Ferrari-powered Haas organization.

A Mick Schumacher confirmation would mark the first time a Schumacher has competed in Formula 1 since his father Michael retired after the 2012 season and end the longest drought without a Schumacher in the sport since before the legendary competitor made his debut back on Sunday, August 25, 1991 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, where he secured his first win the following year.

Michael, who won an all-time record 91 races and seven world championships throughout his career, competed in the sport from 1991 through 2006 and then took a three-year break before returning in 2010 and competing through the end of the 2012 season.

Ralf, Michael’s younger brother, competed in the sport from 1997 to 2007, winning six races and finishing as high as fourth place (twice) in the driver standings.

From 1991 to 2012, only two seasons did not feature a Schumacher in Formula 1 competition. It is very possible — in fact, likely — that the 2020 season will be the final season of that variety for quite some time.

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Schumacher is set to make his Formula 1 practice session debut for Alfa Romeo ahead of the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring next weekend. Ilott is set to do the same for Haas, while Shwartzman is set to do so at Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December for an undetermined team.

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