Mick Schumacher began a test drive for Ferrari on Tuesday – more than 12 years after his father’s last race for the Italian Formula One team. Schumacher, 20, came out of the garage for his F1 test debut behind the wheel of the SF90 on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. He is set to drive for both Ferrari and partner team Alfa Romeo on Wednesday in the two days of Bahrain testing, in what could be another major step in his father’s footsteps into Formula One racing.
Michael Schumacher won the maiden Bahrain Grand Prix in a Ferrari in 2004, and also made a comeback with Mercedes on the track six years later. chumacher Jr, the 2018 European Formula Three champion who this season has begun racing in F2, has been part of Ferrari’s driver academy since January.
Haas’ Romain Grosjean topped a rain-disrupted opening morning of in-season Formula 1 testing in Bahrain as Mick Schumacher made his debut behind the wheel of Ferrari’s SF90.
Romain Grosjean set a time of 1:30.982 shortly before the first of two rain showers that left the circuit moist, coming off the back of early running that took place in dusty conditions after Monday’s sandstorm in the country. Grosjean finished 0.106s clear of Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon during the opening four hours of the test, which will run through 18:00 local time.
Much of the focus during the morning was placed on Schumacher as the 20-year-old climbed into the cockpit of a modern Formula 1 car for the first time in his career. Mick Schumacher, who joined Ferrari’s Driver Academy for 2019, completed 33 laps and finished with a best time of 1:32.552, leaving him in eighth place, 1.569s down on Grosjean.
Carlos Sainz Jr. was fourth for McLaren, in front of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Bahrain Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, with 50 laps completed, was the most productive driver.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll was seventh, in front of the aforementioned Schumacher, while Daniel Ricciardo continued to gain understanding of Renault’s R.S.19 as he classified ninth. Along with Mick Schumacher, there was also attention on his father’s former title rival Fernando Alonso, who returned to Formula 1 test action four months after walking away from a race seat.
McLaren ambassador Alonso took to the track in the Pirelli-run MCL34 to assist the company with its 2020 tyre development. He rounded out the top 10, in front of Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat, who was also in action on behalf of Pirelli. Williams rookie George Russell finished at the rear of the 12-driver field as the team continued to try and learn more about its lacklustre FW42. Russell will hand over to team-mate Robert Kubica for the remainder of the day but will be back on track on Wednesday with Mercedes, as part of his role as a junior for the manufacturer.
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