Schumacher: Being compared to my father is an honour

You could say with confidence that Schumacher junior will race in F1 at some point in his career, for this season he has a Formula 2 campaign to focus on.

After being inducted into the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) he is also expected to test an F1 car - a Sauber or maybe even a Ferrari - for the first time at some point during the course of the year.

Inevitably comparisons to his great father a constant, but this does not rattle the youngster, quite the opposite in fact.

In a video interview released by Prema Racing team, Schumacher said of the comparisons with his Dad, "Being compared to my father was never a problem for me. Being compared to the best driver in F1 history is the goal you want to achieve and to have that as my idol and father is very special."

"I feel honoured to be compared to him because I just learn and try to improve."

Ferrari have always insisted that they would roll out the red carpet for the son of Schumi, the wheel-chair bound seven-times F1 World Champion was responsible for the Scuderia's most successful spell in F1 over the years.

Thus it was no surprise when last year Schumacher junior was inducted into the FDA.

He said of the road ahead, "I can learn very much from Ferrari because they have so much experience and I will want to work with them to achieve the maximum I can.

"The first impressions I had from Ferrari was very heart-opening, welcoming me in a family which was always part of my family," added the German driver.

Stepping up from F3, where he was European Champion, to F2 was not a problem for Schumacher who tested with Prema during the preseason.

“The step itself isn't that huge," he revealed. "In terms of lap times, we're quite a bit quicker [in F2] but it is more understanding the tyres. That will be the most difficult part."

“It’s going to be a bit of a different challenge this year. We have a lot more people surrounding the car, so that’s going to be nice and different. To be able to get a bond to them is very important, especially at the beginning of the year."

The F2 season starts in Bahrain next weekend, the curtain-raiser to the Grand Prix at the venue on Sunday, 24 March.