FORMULA ONE : FATHERING -PROUD- FOOTSTEPS

PARIS : Mick Schumacher is eager to ensure his family name remains a part of Formula's One present, and future as well as its past when he makes his Grand Prix debut.

The 21-year-old-son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is set to be on the grid for American teams Haas at the season opening race in Bahrain - an event won by Michael when the Gulf state staged its inaugural address Grand Prix in 2004.

It will be the first time a member of the family has been involved directly in Formula One race since Michael retired in 2012 and 30 years after the German great's impressive debut for the Jordan team at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.

''I have never said that carrying the family name is pressure, and I am pretty sure I will never say that because I am very happy to carry that name back into Formula One,'' said Schumacher at Haas' 2021 launch on Thursday.

''I am very proud of it. It is a boost for me and it gives me a motivation every single day to work as much as I can and work as hard as I can.''

Schumacher senior went on to win 91 91 races for Benetton and Ferrari, with five of his world titles coming in the famous red colours of the Italian marque.

It was only last year that Britain's Lewis Hamilton surpassed his total of race wins, with the Mercedes driver bidding to capture an unprecedented eighth world title this season.

The 52-year-old Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public for more than seven years after a skiing accident, witnessed by Mick, in the French Alps left him with severe brain injuries.

Schumacher, last season's Formula Two champion, added : ''I will try to improve in every aspect - that is what I want to do - and I will work my arse off for that and give everything I have.''

Schumacher and fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin are set to be Hass' two drivers this season.

Mazepin is the 22-year-old son of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, a non-executive director of Russian company Uralkali, who are the min title partner of the Haas team.

Uralkali, one of the world's largest potash fertiliser producers and exporters, have signed a multi-year agreement starting with Haas, with the team's race car set to be decked out in the colours of the Russian flag even though they are an American outfit. [AFP]