Schumacher & Ilott get new debut at Abu Dhabi
Oct.10 - Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will not immediately get another chance to drive in Friday practice sessions this year, according to Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto.
Formula 2 points leader Schumacher and runner-up Ilott - both Ferrari academy members - were due to drive the Alfa Romeo and Haas cars respectively at the Nurburgring.
However, the weather made both Friday practice sessions a write-off, and the drivers are now unlikely to return to F1 cockpits until at least Abu Dhabi.
"I think they'll get another opportunity, but that won't come any time soon when you look at the tracks that are coming up," Binotto said.
"Portimao is a new circuit for everyone, just like Turkey, and at Imola we only have a two-day weekend.
"That is why it is very likely that they will not get the next opportunity before Abu Dhabi. We have to be patient.
"It's a shame that it didn't work out here because they prepared well for this mission in Fiorano, but the weather cannot be changed," the Italian added.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
In the short term this will do Mick Schumacher a favour. I felt that this opportunity would have taken his focus away from leading the F2 Championship and now after the disappointment of not driving a contemporary F1 car in front of his home fans he'll be more determined to wrap up the F2 title rather than feeling he's 'made it' already and losing that little bit of edge he's developed over the last few months.
✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.