Like father, like son: emotional race for Schumacher in Bahrain

Manama, Mar.22 (BNA): Mick Schumacher is preparing for an emotional Formula One debut at Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix - 11 years after his father Michael made his widely anticipated comeback to the sport at the same venue. Feelings will run high "but definitely not in the warm-up lap or directly before the start," the renowned debutant told dpa. "Such thoughts don't come there because you're concentrating so much. At the latest when you put the helmet on, everything revolves around the race that's ahead of you," said Schumacher, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Monday. The postponement of the Australian Grand Prix from last weekend because of the coronavirus pandemic means Schumacher's debut with Haas in the elite motorsport series will happen in Sakhir. Michael Schumacher came out of retirement in the desert for the same race on March 14, 2010. "I was also in Bahrain then but I don't actually have special memories of it," Mick said. "What this moment meant back then was absolutely not known to me." Michael Schumacher (52) was returning after seven world titles and three seasons out after his 2006 decision to retire from Ferrari. He drove three further years for Mercedes, who were then not the powerhouse who dominated the hybrid era from 2014. The elder Schumacher, 52, has been kept out of the public eye since suffering severe head injuries in a December 2013 skiing accident as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland. Sunday will also be a moving moment for Sabine Kehm, the long-term manager of Michael Schumacher who also represents Mick. "It's something of a happy ending even when it is of course just starting for Mick now," she said.