Formula 1 newcomer Mick Schumacher uses mother's maiden name to hide his identity

BERLIN - For good reasons, a Saturday in March 2021 will be a special day for Mick Schumacher. The 21-year-old will mark the start of the new Formula 1 season, just one day ahead of his 22nd birthday.

The seven-time world champion's son has signed a multi-year contract to race for Haas racing, the US-based team.

The driver is continuing the family tradition as he will make his debut 30 years on from his father Michael's first ever race in Spa 1991.

The new chapter stands for a significant milestone after having to compete in the shadow of his popular father for over a decade now.

Michael Schumacher disappeared from the public eye after a ski accident seven years ago. He suffered severe head injuries and is being treated in the privacy of the family estate in Switzerland.

While his father was fighting for his life for several days, his son was an almost 14-year-old teenager in the middle of puberty.

At the age of three, he took up cart racing before advancing to Formula racing in 2015. The family's wealth allowed him to do extra training on rented racing circuits, sometimes to the envy of his rivals.

The son's career has been guided carefully by the family and the father's former manager, Sabine Kehm, to ease his way down motorsport's stony road.

The Schumachers tried to keep the inevitable public interest away from him as much as possible.

The Ferrari driver academy member leads the F2 as the series goes into his final round next weekend.

Mick won the European Formula 3 championship in 2018 and made his F2 debut last season.

Despite apparently having inherited great talent, the youngster had to work out a smart strategy to make a name for himself rather than living off his famous name.

Trying to hide his true identity, he used his mother's maiden name to enroll in starting lists as Mick Betsch.

He might have been aware some tricks are necessary to secure smooth progress.

Comparisons with his father have never been a too heavy burden for him, he claimed. "Being compared to the best driver in F1 history is the goal you want to achieve. To have him as my idol and father is very special," Mick Schumacher said.

The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly happy. It leaves me speechless," he said.

After signing his first F1 contract, he spoke about the tremendous support he has received from his family. "I am so grateful to my parents and say how much I love them. I know I owe them everything," the up-and-coming driver commented.

He stressed that he had always believed, "I would fulfill my dream of racing in Formula 1."

Mick spoke about the significant step ahead of him as "we are speaking about a time difference of 11 to 12 seconds from Formula 2 to 1".

The next Schumacher entering Formula 1 three decades after Michael is not only of major interest in Germany.

Lewis Hamilton has this season surpassed Schumacher's record number of wins (91) and equalled his world championship titles.

"Michael moved the sport's limits to a new level. Mick is going his own way, and he is doing great. He has got his feet on the ground, which impresses me a lot," the Briton said.

He said he was overwhelmed after receiving one of Michael Schumacher's helmets from his son Mick after winning the Nurburgring race in this season.

Mick Schumacher will initially test drive his new car on December 11 in a free training session at the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and join up with the testing for young drivers four days later at the Yas Marina course.