Mick Schumacher

He doesn't have to match his father, he just has to win on his own and enjoy whatever success he earns on merit. Michael Andretti was an absolutely amazing driver who had an amazing Indy car career. I think he had as much respect as his father, though mechanical failures always seemed to stop him from winning the Indy 500...so he didn't match his father's success. And while Mario became the second American to win the F1 WDC, Michael made a mess of his F1 attempt. But Michael has still carved out a great career for himself in racing...and if Mick simply does his best, then he can enjoy one as well. He isn't in competition with his father, he's in competition with himself.

 

David Schumacher just won the F4 Championship.

 

I agree, there's far too much digital influence in the cars. Drivers can no longer improvise to the degree they previously could, or make the biggest difference to speed.
When the computer says "NO" - as a driver you are pretty ****ed

By contrast Moto GP still allows the great racers to shine brightly

 

Sooo, rumors have it that Mick is ready to sign a deal to join the Ferrari Junior drive programme having turned down a similar deal with Mercedes. This is according to Italian Motorsports.

 

Now that is a very smart young man.

 

What is the Ferrari Junior drive programme? Never heard of it.

 

Same thing as the FDA. The google translated it differently.

Started on 2009. Gives up-and-coming drivers tests, sim work and feeder series.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Driver_Academy
Stroll was one of them...

 

At the moment it looks like F1 of today is the best and only way for Mick to win a championship

 

The marketing plan has already started.

 

Italian motorsport reports Mick is about to sign for FDA and become Ferrari’s test driver for this year!

https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/esclusivo-sara-mick-schumacher-il-tester-ferrari-nei-test-in-stagione-con-la-rossa/4323778/

 

Ferrari got rid of him quite quickly

 

yap....they realized he was crap right after they took his money!! too bad they took so long to do the same with Alonso!

 

TRue, F.1 today isn't much about drivers talent, any average driver can win providing he lands in the right car, i think it just devalues the whole formula....

 

Who, Stroll? Not at all, Stroll was part of the Ferrari FDA since he was 8 or 9 years old and would just leave when he was in his second year at F3.

 

Truth to be told, Stroll was the one who decided to leave FDA.

 

NEarly 12 actually.

And I'm pretty sure he wasn't there on talent but more because papa stroll has quite a large ferrari collection and a son that wanted to race cars...

 

What are the chances of being good enough to drive in F1 on merit and having your father connected or owner of all kinds of race teams as well? Must be infinitesimally small.

 

What are the chances of being good enough to drive F1 on merit?

Many drivers have bought their seats. Even some future WDCs like Mansell, Lauda and MS.

It'd be naïve to believe that only the best on merit end up in the top echelon of motorsports. Doesn't happen that way as there is wayyyyyy toooo much $ involved.

 

I thought that was obvious. I am not sure but I think I heard somewhere that Lawrence had owned, or owns, the Montreal Ferrari dealership too.

There were s many drivers that got into F1 on merit alone: Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Schumacher, Senna, Piquet... Fortunately the "have a rich father group" is the minority.

 

Wait, Lauda bought his seat, true, but MS did not. He was supported by generous sponsorship, not by his father or family money.

 

I think he does (or did). Anyhow...it was a pretty easy bet for Ferrari to make (if they put up any money at all, which I doubt): Very valuable client who owns his own bloody race track where his little boy has been running around on for years. Surely he'll be able to get the car around a track in reasonable time. If not? Well he'll leave at some point.

Couldn't lose.

 

Don’t disagree although most of those had to find an independent sponsor who believed in them first.

Stroll is at another level of buying seats. Would he have made it without his dad? No chance.

 

His manager bought MS' first seat:

It was a test session with Jordan at Silverstone IIRC. His times were so good the mechanics joked whether he used a shortcut on the track. After that he got hired, then came Spa and the rest is history.