Binotto: Logical step for Mick is to start with a smaller F1 team

Last year Mick finished 12th in his F2 rookie and is expected to raise his game and challenge for the title this season and, should he attain the set goals, F1 is the next inevitable step on his journey.

Ferrari team chief Mattia Binotto hinted as much to Bild after the Barcelona weekend in which Mick scored a podium, “Mick is doing very well this season in Formula 2."

And in fairness, he has been at the sharp end of a quality 2020 field, but luck has not been on his side.

At the same time, he should be compared to Prema Racing teammate, Russian rookie Robert Schwartzman who has two wins to his name already (Mick scored one last year) and lies second in the standings after eight points scoring rounds.

Schumacher, as mentioned, has yet to make it on to the top step of the F2 podium, so far this season, but has been on it on four occasions. He lies fifth in the F2 championship standings, 24 points behind Schwarzman in second and 42 behind series leader Callum Ilott - the trio all part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

According to Binotto, young Schumi is ticking all the boxes, "His job was to improve and he is doing just that. We will soon discuss what we will do with him next year. I think the next logical step for him is to start with a smaller F1 team, where he can become familiar with these cars."

"Who is eligible for a F1 seat, we will decide later in the year," added the Ferrari chief with reference to the FDA drivers on the team's books.

That "smaller" team he refers to would most likely be Alfa Romeo, should the everpresent Kimi Raikkonen finally decide to hang up his helmet, Mick would slot in alongside Antonio Giovinazzi.

The other alternative is a seat with Haas, either of their current drivers - Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean - could be sacrificed with little loss to the team, to make way for Mick and for the privilege they would probably get a relative discount on PUs; not a bad option for the not-flush-for-cash American team.

Mick is no stranger to F1, last year did two full days of Bahrain testing with both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, impressing the team with his composure and focus in the imposing circumstances. Again important boxes were ticked.

In closing, it should be said that the son of the great Michael Schumacher was always going to be a racing driver. That he makes it to Formula 1 simply amplifies the family's incredible legacy, how he fares under the unforgiving spotlight of the top flight will be telling.

If he is a fraction of what his father was, and can even match his uncle Ralf Schumacher, a six-time Grand Prix winner, 21-year-old Mick should also make his mark at the highest level. but his surname is no guarantee that happens unless he delivers.