FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 file photo, former Mercedes Grand Prix driver Michael Schumacher of Germany, looks on ahead the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps circuit , Belgium. Former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has left hospital to continue his recovery at home, his manager said Tuesday. The seven-time champion suffered a serious head injury while skiing in France in December, resulting in him being put in a coma. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) (AP)
Michael Schumacher's 15-year-old son Mick has outgrown kart racing and is moving up to Formula 4, a series for young talents.
The young Schumacher has signed a contract with Van Amersfoort Racing to drive in the Formula 4.
"We have watched his skills in test driving and are looking forward to a successful season," the Dutch team's owner Frits van Amersfoort said on Monday.
The son of the most successful driver in Formula One history got his racing start in the same kart series as his famous father, who honed his skills on a circuit near the family's home before moving on to Formula 3 and later Formula One glory.
Michael Schumacher suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in December 2013. He was retired at the time of the accident. He is still recovering at his Swiss home after spending months in hospital.
With seven titles, Schumacher is the most successful Formula One driver in history and also holds many other records in the series. His brother Ralf was also a Formula One driver and is still involved with motor sport.
Mick Schumacher finished second in the world, European and German kart championships last season, racing as Mick Junior or under his mother's maiden name to protect his privacy.
He will make his debut for Van Amersfoort Racing in Oschersleben, Germany, on April 25-26, by which time he will be 16.
Formula 4, the new single-seat category to FIA standards, aims at young drivers with a background in karting.
"In the last couple of years, it has become a tradition for us that we offer the runner-up from the German junior karting championship (DJKM) a test session in our simulator," Frits van Amersfoort said.
"This is handled by the DMSB, the German motorsport authority, and that is how we first got in touch with MickSchumacher last autumn. He spent a full day in the simulator at our headquarters in The Netherlands. Then we witnessed him during a test session at Valencia and eventually, we reached an agreement to compete together in this year's ADAC Formula 4 series."
Van Amersfoort ran Max Verstappen in Formula 3 last year. Verstappen, son of Michael Schumacher's former teammate Jos, is set to become the youngest driver to start a Formula One race when the season opens later this month in Australia. He will be 17. Verstappen will be driving for Toro Rosso.