Berlin (AFP)

Team, sponsors, organizers, broadcasters: the world of F1 is expecting a lot from Mick Schumacher's arrival in the premier class this season.

At just 22 years old, will the legendary Michael's son be able to withstand this pressure?

His father, a Ferrari icon, was a seven-time world champion.

He will start at Haas, a stable with more modest ambitions, which also recruited him because his prestigious name greatly facilitates the search for funding.

But the career plan of the young German is drawn: trained at the Ferrari academy, he is in contract with the mark of Maranello - which pays half of his salary at Haas - and will one day take the wheel of a red car. .. if he proves himself.

"The name Schumacher is a brand, but it is a brand linked to the first name Michael. Ferrari and the others are not patrons, Mick will have to write his own story", decrypts Hervé Bodinier, sports marketing professional for AFP and connoisseur of Formula 1.

For now, broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers are rubbing their hands.

According to a study carried out in Germany, 35% of Sky subscribers ensure that they will watch F1 broadcasts more often if he is at the start.

Sky Germany has also based all its pre-season communication on the debut of the young man, the only hero of the promotional clip which has been running in a loop for days.

- Hardened by life -

"His arrival is already a great enrichment for F1, his name attracts a lot of attention, and the whole series benefits", recognizes Stefano Domenicali, the big boss of F1, close to the Schumacher family: "But the pressure and the expectations are now going to be enormous ".

"It is not easy to be a + son of +", testifies for his part Nico Rosberg, son of champion Keke Rosberg.

"At first, the media attention on him will even be bigger than on Lewis Hamilton. I hope Mick will manage to ignore it and be able to concentrate on his job, otherwise it will spoil the fun a lot."

"We need time and patience, adds the German-Finnish driver, I waited seven years before winning my first Grand Prix, and eleven years for the world title. You have to keep that in mind when evaluating your performance this season ".

The fact remains that Mick, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Monday, has been hardened by life: since his first laps in karting, the media have been interested in him.

And he built himself as a teenager with a diminished father, who has never been seen in public since his serious skiing accident in 2013.

"He has forged a shell, he has a good family, his dramatic history, he makes a strength", analyzes Hervé Bodinier.

- "Give him time" -

"Certainly his name opens doors for him," admits Ross Brawn, F1 sporting director and intimate member of the Schumacher family, "but he also puts a lot of pressure on him, no doubt. So far he's been doing very well. out (...) He is incredibly mature for his age and very balanced ".

Sportingly, Mick has not usurped his place among the best drivers in the world.

He successfully crossed all the lower rungs one by one, until he won the F2 championship, the antechamber of the premier category, last season.

"He deserved this promotion. He reached the level of an F1 driver by his own strength, not by his name," said Domenicali.

"Now we have to give it time to grow, learn (...) and follow a completely normal progression curve".

But financial players, who expect returns on investment, will they have the patience to wait several seasons to see a Schumacher climb on a podium again?

First elements of answer this weekend at the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

© 2021 AFP