For the winner of a Formula Two world championship to make the step up to F1 a natural progression that would not normally be eye-catching – but when that driver has a famous name things are going to be a little different.
Mick Schumacher, the son of Michael’s seven-time world champion, is the young driver in mind as he makes his Formula One debut for Haas in Bahrain on Sunday, but he deserves to drive.
After starting his career in karting, Mick went on to win the Formula 3 European competition in 2018 and the Formula Two title in 2020.
Or a bad CV for a young man who turns 22 Monday.
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But this week, the surrounding sound responds with memories of his father who came his last race in a shiny career in Brazil at the end of the 2012 season.
Michael Schumacher, 52, has not been seen in public for more than seven years after a skiing accident, which Mick witnessed, in the French Alps that left him with a serious brain injury.
But it is still a touchstone for his son.
“I will definitely look at what he has achieved, and I will try to learn from him,” said Mick in February.
For the younger generation who arrived on the scene too late to see Michael at work, or those who only remember him from his time back with Mercedes, it is easy to forget how Schumacher took control on the sport as well as Lewis Hamilton today.
He won two titles with Benetton before taking the big move to Ferrari with what he won five more titles.
“It’s been a criterion for so long and for me it’s still a benchmark, so I always refer to it,” Mick said.
“That’s on the sports side, and on the human side, I always look at how stable he has been over those years and how he’s kept his feet on the ground.
“It’s something I really value, but also something I can learn from and follow through my career.”
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Former world champion Nico Rosberg, who won Keke’s father the title in 1982, celebrated 24 years before his debut in F1, on the extra weight Mick would put on with his famous father.
“Being a‘ son ’is not easy,” Rosberg told the Sport1 website.
“And with Mick, it’s 10 times harder, because Michael’s time wasn’t that long ago and it was a lot more successful.
“I hope Mick can put that aside and focus well on his work – because otherwise it will take away a lot of the fun.”
Even without the pressure of attention, it was never going to be an easy door for Mick.
His Haas team seems to feature in the middle and back of the pack while his teammate, his teammate Nikita Mazepin is perhaps putting on even more pressure.
He is also a ‘son’ even though he is not a Formula One aristocrat. Instead, the father of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin is a non-executive director of the Russian company Uralkali, which is a major title partner of the Haas team.
There is a good chance, however, that Mick will succeed better than his father did when he turned out for Jordan in his first Grand Prix in Belgium in 1991.
Michael Schumacher did brilliantly to qualify for seventh place but a failure meant he did no more than the opening lap of the race itself.
Whether it comes anywhere near 91 race prizes and seven world titles, only time will tell. No weight at all.