Following father's famous footsteps

Schumacher's teenage son shows 'huge potential' in taking F3 crown

BERLIN - Mick Schumacher, the teenage son of the stricken Michael Schumacher, was described as having the potential to become "one of the sport's greats" after being crowned Formula Three European champion on Saturday, fueling speculation of a Formula One career.

"We will now think more intensively about next year and the decision will be made in the next few days," Schumacher, 19, told broadcaster n-tv, without giving details.

Toto Wolff, powerful head of world Formula One champion Mercedes, tipped the teenager for great things.

"He has huge potential ... he has proven himself and can become a great in our sport," said Wolff.

His first F3 title means Schumacher has qualified for a FIA 'super license', a prerequisite for the jump to Formula One, and follows on from his father, who won the German F3 championships 28 years ago.

With one F3 race left this season, the 19-year-old finished second in the day's second race at Germany's Hockenheim circuit to leave him with an unassailable lead in the championship.

"It's hard to describe, I'm just grateful, I'm living my dream," Schumacher said.

"The title was my goal from the beginning, I never stopped believing it. We drivers do what we love. And when it is successful, it is the best feeling you can have."

Schumacher was a picture of concentration in the final laps to hold second and secure the title, but he punched the air after crossing the finish line.

Estonia's Juri Vips took the checkered flag, but all the attention was on Schumacher, who dominated the second half of the F3 season after claiming five straight wins last month.

He hugged his team after finishing on the podium for the 13th time in 29 races this season.

Before Sunday's final race, Schumacher had 347 points, 51 ahead of Britain's Daniel Ticktum, the only driver who could have caught the German.

Schumacher finished 12th in Saturday morning's race after an early crash forced him into the pits.

"You could see that perhaps I wanted it too much or had too much adrenalin," he said.

The presence of the German teenager with the famous name generated huge media interest in F3 this season.

After a mediocre start, things clicked in July, when he won at Spa in Belgium, to claim his first victory in the 15th of 30 races.

He then began a run of nine podium places of the next 12 races.

In September he racked up five straight wins to seize control of the drivers' championship and catch the attention of those in Formula One.

Born in March 1999, the year before his father won the first of five consecutive F1 world titles for Ferrari, Mick started his racing career in karting at age 9.

To avoid attention he raced as "Mick Betsch", using his mother's maiden name.

He was on the ski hill with his dad in the French resort of Meribel in December 2013 when an accident left Michael with serious head injuries.

The 49-year-old has not been seen in public since as he recovers at the family home in Switzerland.

In 2014, Mick finished the karting season second overall in the German, European and world championships.

Finally racing under the family name, he stepped up to F4 racing in 2015.

Schumacher scored his maiden win at Oschersleben for the Van Amersfoort Racing team, but eventually finished tenth overall after only two podium places.

With the spotlight permanently on young Schumacher, he was fiercely guarded from reporters' questions by Sabine Kehm, his father's manager.

In 2016, Schumacher junior finished second in both the German and Italian F4 championships and last year when he stepped up to the F3 championships he was 12th with just one podium finish.

This season, he has been a revelation for Prema Theodore Racing, sparking speculation that he will race in Formula Two next season - or step straight up to F1.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE