3 Mar 2015

Schumachers son to race Formula 4

7:17 am on 3 March 2015

The former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher's teenage son is following in his father's racing footsteps after moving up to Formula 4 from kart this year.

The former F1 driver Michael Schumacher racing for Ferrari at the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at Instanbul Park, August 2006.

The former F1 driver Michael Schumacher racing for Ferrari at the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at Instanbul Park, August 2006. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Mick Schumacher, whose father -- a seven-time F1 champion -- suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and is still recovering, will drive for Dutch outfit Van Amersfoort Racing.

Team owner Frits van Amersfoort says it's tradition for them to have the runner-up of the German carting championship over and offer them a test at their simulator.

Van Amersfoort says he spent a full day at the simulator at their headquarters in the Netherlands, then they saw him during a test session at Valencia and, eventually, they agreed to compete together in this year's ADAC Formula 4 series.

The 15-year-old, who was the 2014 runner-up for the world, European and German kart titles, is the first driver named for the team's 2015 season.

His father is continuing his rehabilitation at home in the Swiss town of Gland after spending months in hospital following his skiing accident in December 2013.

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