Ferrari teammate Mattia Binotto expects Mick Schumacher to have a tight Formula One debate with Haas next year before accelerating in 2022.
Schumacher, the son of Ferrari big and seven-time F1 world champion, won the Formula Two title this year and has graduated to the U.S. property team with close ties to Maranello.
Haas scored just three points this season and finished ninth of the 10 teams.
“I think it will be very difficult for him at first,” Binotto told reporters in a video conference when asked what he expected from the 21-year-old Ferrari Academy driver.
“If I look at his previous experience in F2 and F3, he usually delivers his best in the second season and not the first.
“I think Mick, as he developed himself, is learning a lot on the first season and getting really strong in the second half of the second season. That’s why I think two important seasons for him.
“But already on the second one I expect to see progress compared to the first.”
Ferrari has kept the opportunity open to Schumacher, a member of the Ferrari Drivers Academy (FDA), one day racing for them but they have Charles Leclerc on a long-term contract while Spaniard Carlos Sainz has named his contributed to a two-year contract that could be extended.
“Mick is part of the FDA and, as I often say, the FDA program is not there to develop drivers for F1, but it is there to develop drivers that could one day drive a Ferrari car, “Binotto said. “I think, when you move from F2 to F1, the first year can’t just be with a red car because that would be too much of a burden and not enough experience.”
They also have close ties to Switzerland-based Alfa Romeo, which could be a future destination for Schumacher after Haas, depending on the progress.
Binotto said he wanted to see Schumacher grow faster.
“I really expect him to prove how fast he is in the F1 context, both deserving and the race … to prove that he is very strong in race pace and consistent in terms of being taking the car home in good condition, “he said.
Ferrari has strengthened their ties with Haas ahead of next season, with their chassis engineering chief Simone Resta taking over.
Binotto said more Ferrari Resta employees will follow suit as the team is forced to shed staff to meet the conditions of a budget cap to be introduced next year.
“A few more technologies will move, reducing the organization required for the budget allocation but strengthening the organization of our customers and partner teams,” he said.
Those relocated to Haas would stay at Maranello but work out of a completely separate facility with no access to Ferrari’s main building, Binotto added.