Mick Schumacher has taken another important stride to follow in his father’s famous footsteps by signing a deal to race in Formula One’s feeder series next year.
Mick, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, will make the move to Formula Two with Italian team Prema in 2019.
British driver George Russell won the F2 title in Abu Dhabi last weekend, and will race in F1 for Williams next year, while his countryman Lando Norris who finished runner-up, is also graduating from the junior series with McLaren.
Schumacher Jnr, 19, impressed by winning eight times en route to clinching the Formula Three championship with a race to spare last month.
He will now compete in F2 for a team which boasts Charles Leclerc as a former champion.
Leclerc, 21, is joining Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari next year after a strong rookie campaign with Sauber.
“I’m really looking forward to contesting my next season with Prema in FIA Formula 2,” Schumacher Jnr said.
“It is a logical step on my sporting path in my view, because I want to further improve my technical experience and driving skills.”
Schumacher Jnr was skiing in the French Alps with his father when he fell nearly five years ago.
Schumacher, who won a record 91 Grands Prix, is understood to be receiving round-the-clock care at his home in Switzerland, but no information has been made public about his medical condition.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is a keen admirer of the career that Schumacher Jnr has forged, and believes the young German could possess the credentials to race for the Silver Arrows.
Wolff told Press Association Sport: “Mick needs to continue his development, continue to learn, clock mileage, and, then eventually, if he stays on that development slope he is going to be in F1, hopefully one day with us.
“He is a very nice kid, with very recent success, and with an incredible legacy on his shoulders. Carrying that name is more difficult than you can imagine.”
Schumacher Jnr will test for his new team in Abu Dhabi later this week.