Mick Schumacher "overwhelmed" to follow in father Michael's footsteps

Mick Schumacher has revealed to being "overwhelmed" in realising a dream of following in his father's Formula 1 footsteps that he has held since he was three years old.

Nine years after Michael Schumacher retired from F1, son Mick will again fly the family flag in the sport when he drives for Haas from 2021.

Although Schumacher still has the F2 title to win this weekend in Bahrain, with the 21-year-old 14 points clear of fellow Ferrari Academy driver Callum Ilott, he has now been thrust firmly into the F1 spotlight.

"I think it's great to be in the same sport, a sport that we both love so much," said Schumacher. "To be able to go a similar path to get to know the sport inside out is amazing.

"To finally reach my goal...everybody's goal is Formula 1. All the junior drivers want to reach F1 eventually, so to be one of those 20 drivers is something incredible.

"I'm really just a bit overwhelmed and happy that everything has been confirmed and that I'm going to be standing on the grid next year.

"Obviously it's a dream come true for me, a dream I've been chasing since I was three years old, and now it's finally happened, it's great.

"I'm just really looking forward to working with a great team, and to really get everything going. I'm sure they're supporting in every aspect."

As to when Schumacher realised the dream was achievable, that he was good enough, he replied: "I've never let go of that thought, of that dream. I was always very positive on it and sure I would manage to reach it one day.

"It's difficult to reach it when the results are not there, so even better the results did come this year, and also having a very good season in Formula 3 in 2018 [winning the title] also shows that driving-wise I shouldn't be too bad of a driver -I hope!

"As I said, I didn't let go of that thought, and I was always very positive on it, and now it's finally come true it's obviously great."

With Schumacher almost certain to be facing considerable pressure from next year, regardless of the performance of Haas in the wake of its worst campaign in the sport this season, Schumacher said: "It's quite clear I've been under a spotlight since a very young age, especially due to the sport that I do and I love, probably more than usual.

"Nevertheless it's something that I've been able to get used to, and I would say about myself that I'm able to deal with it pretty well.

"I think the results speak for it. I think I will do the same as usual next year, too, and we'll try and keep the same rhythm."

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