'Mick Schumacher would spike F1 ratings'

Mick Schumacher would spark an immediate upturn in Formula 1's viewing figures, according to former F1 racer Timo Glock. Former Jordan and Toyota driver Glock says that Germany would once again tune in en masse if the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher were on the grid.

Momentum has swollen behind Schumacher Jr in recent weeks as he has surged into title contention in European Formula 3.

The 19-year-old has won four of the last six races, including all three at the last meeting at the Nurburgring, to jump into second place and he was recently linked with an immediate switch to F1 with Toro Rosso.

Taking it out this weekend at @redbullring. @prema_team @theodoreracing1 @fiaf3europe @DVAG #SCM #TeamMS pic.twitter.com/Z1QZor5RvJ — Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) September 20, 2018

Although Red Bull officials have dismissed the notion of signing Schumacher, he could soon field academy offers, with Ferrari saying the "door is always open" to the seven-time world champion's son.

Chase Carey has spoken of Liberty Media's awareness of what Schumacher stepping up to F1 would mean for ratings, and Glock says the impact would be instant, although says he should wait for his chance.

"I've talked to him a couple of times and I think for him, his best options now are GP3 or Formula 2," Glock told Rheinische Post. "Either way, he would be closer to F1.

"If F1 had a Schumacher again, it would boost the interest in Germany.

"Right now the ratings are good with an average of four million viewers. But at the height of Michael Schumacher, it was more like 10 million.

"The current drop is normal and we saw it when Boris Becker and Steffi Graf finished their [tennis] careers."

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