Will he be the next Schumi in the DTM? Ralf Schumacher’s son David (20) tested a Mercedes-AMG GT3 (approx. 550 hp) of the DTM team HRT owned by champion Maximilian Götz on the Formula 1 track in Le Castellet (France) on Wednesday and Thursday.
This makes him the fourth Schumacher to make the acquaintance of the most popular German touring car series. Uncle Michael drove a Mercedes 190E Evo II in three races in 1990 and 1991 as a Mercedes junior, and even accidentally shot down championship leader Johnny Cecotto (BMW) in the 1990 final.
Uncle Michael drove a Mercedes 190E Evo II in three races in 1990 and 1991 as a Mercedes Junior. (Photo: DTM)Photo: BiG Media
After his Formula 1 career, Ralf’s father drove 52 races for Mercedes in the DTM from 2008 to 2012, was on the podium twice and took a pole position. And cousin Mick also came into contact with the prototypes of the more recent DTM past: in 2018 he drove the Mercedes-AMG C63 in a show run.
So now David Schumacher has also taken his place in the DTM Silver Arrow. “The conditions were mixed, but it was enough to get an impression of the car,” he tells BILD. “It was faster than I expected and it was fun. Let’s see if I can get in again sometime. “
One thing is clear: the series from ex-F1 star Gerhard Berger is a real alternative for the German. In Formula 3, he finished eleventh in 2021. The next logical step: Either a promotion to Formula 2 or a sideways step into the DTM, which is again attractive for young drivers.
“This year, the DTM has proven that young drivers can put themselves in the limelight there,” emphasized David’s father Ralf Schumacher to BILD. “Formula 3 and Formula 2 can hardly be paid for anymore. The DTM can be an interesting alternative and also serve as a springboard. “
Background: In 2021, Red Bull Junior Liam Lawson drove for the title in a Ferrari and convinced Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko of his abilities. The result: Red Bull wants to continue preparing him for the premier class in Formula 2 in 2022.
David Schumacher sets the bar very high himself. (Photo: DTM)Photo: BiG Media
David Schumacher also sets the bar very high himself. “The goal is to get into Formula 1 first and then see if you can become world champion,” he told BILD. “When you’ve invested so much time and money, there can be no other goal. But as you can see again this year, a good team is important to become world champion. “
For DTM boss Gerhard Berger, the comeback of the Schumacher name would definitely be a win. “I would be very happy to welcome the next generation of the Schumacher family to the DTM,” the Austrian told BILD.
In addition to Schumacher, the other two German up-and-coming stars David Beckmann and Lirim Zendeli also tested for HRT-Mercedes. The new GT3 DTM – it could actually become a talent factory again …