Leading Formula 2 drivers Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman will get a taste of Formula 1 machinery this season during official free practice sessions.
All three are part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, with Schumacher currently leading the F2 standings with two rounds to go ahead of Ilott, and Shwartzman having also shone in his debut season in the series.
Schumacher will drive for the Alfa Romeo team on home soil during Free Practice 1 at next month’s Eiffel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. He will be joined on track by Ilott, who will be at the wheel of a Haas. Shwartzman will get his F1 opportunity later in the year when he will drive for Alfa in FP1 at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“I am overjoyed to get this chance in free practice,” said Schumacher. “The fact that my first participation in a Formula 1 weekend will take place in front of my home audience at the Nurburgring makes this moment even more special.”
“I would like to thank Alfa Romeo Racing and the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me the opportunity to get another taste of Formula 1 one and a half years after our common test drive in Bahrain.
“For the next ten days I’m going to prepare myself well, so that I can do the best possible job for the team and gain some valuable data for the weekend.”
“It’s a real privilege to get my first run in a free practice session, especially to do it with the Haas F1 Team,”added Ilott. “It’s amazing to have this chance at a track that is one of my favourites – it was where I scored the first podium of my career back in 2015.
“The Nurburgring means a lot to me and is a track with a real heritage, so it’s great that I’ll have my first outing at a Formula 1 race weekend there. Thanks to Haas F1 Team and to the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me such a great opportunity. It should be really fun and exciting. I plan to make the most of it, I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Featured image credit: fiaformula2.com
