Did Alfa Romeo Originally Want Mick Schumacher? – “Ferrari Decided Differently”

A Schumacher will be seen in the F1 paddock after a long time, and this time, it is the turn of 21-year-old Mick Schumacher. The young German, who is also a graduate of the Ferrari Drivers’ Academy, will join up with Haas for the 2021 campaign.

Although he eventually joined the American outfit, ‘Schumi Junior’ was reportedly also linked with another F1 team. It incidentally is that very team that offered him a free practice outing in their car – Alfa Romeo.

The Hinwil-headquartered team’s technical director, Jan Monchaux, has now said that the outfit did consider Mick for 2021. Undoubtedly, that would have also been a promising driver-team combination to look out for.

There was certainly a thought, said Monchaux

Monchaux stated, “There was certainly a thought. But we don’t decide whether Mick will get a chance with us.” (translated via Google Translate)

Alfa Romeo and Haas have been customer teams for some time now, given their affiliation with main team Scuderia Ferrari. Therefore, the Italian giants’ management ultimately thought Schumacher’s development would be best served with the latter.

“In the end, Ferrari decided differently. Ferrari and Alfa. Certainly also has reasons with the sponsorship. The brand Alfa, who might prefer an Italian in the car,” concluded Monchaux.

Following much speculation, Alfa Romeo retained their existing partnership of Kimi Raikkonen and Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi for 2021. But that said, Mick could very easily have been behind the wheel of the team’s C41 car this campaign.

Mick Schumacher will aim to gain some F1 experience with his new team

During his pursuit of the F2 title, both Schumacher and Callum Ilott had received opportunities to drive in the first free practice session. Ultimately, weather played spoilsport at the Nurburgring, and the chance never materialized.

However, Mick now enters a good environment where he will get to learn a lot under team boss Guenther Steiner. Admittedly, his first objective would be to get to grips with the premier division amidst other targets.

Ferrari do have some big plans for the 21-year-old German, but he will have to show the initiative and zest to achieve in F1. For the time being, however, his focus would lie on adapting to life at Haas.

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