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The Ferrari Formula 1 team says it would welcome Mick Schumacher to its young driver academy with a "red carpet", admitting it has been impressed with his progress.

Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael, is stepping up to the European Formula 3 Championship this season with Prema after two seasons in Formula 4.

Mercedes has already been linked with a move to bring the 17-year-old under its driver development wing, and Ferrari is also keen to have him in its Driver Academy (FDA).

Massimo Rivola, the FDA manager, told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Obviously we follow him.

"And this year we will have the opportunity to stay very close to Mick, because he will be team-mate of our FDA driver [Guan Yu] Zhou in the Prema team.

"About his future, I don't know what Mick will decide to do. But if he would like to enter the FDA programme, he will find a red carpet."

Rivola added that it was not just Schumacher's form on track that impressed him

"Mick seems very polite and he's not full of himself," said Rivola.

"So congratulations to his parents. They did a very good job with him.

"He's very young, and he must manage a very huge media pressure. But he is doing it very well."

GIOVINAZZI DESERVES CHANCE

Rivola also heaped praise on Ferrari third driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who was signed up after an impressive rookie campaign in GP2 where he won five races and finished runner-up to Pierre Gasly.

"He's very strong," said Rivola. "I wanted him in the Academy already at the beginning of 2016, so I'm very happy that he's now Ferrari"s third driver. He deserves this chance.

"For me, he is a great talent and his attitude is impressive.

"It is true that Antonio is 23, but I don"t think it is correct that F1's door is open only to 18-year-old drivers.

"Every driver has a personal story, and that is what F1 must look at."