Rumours and comments from Mattia Binotto suggest Ferrari is preparing to promote Mick Schumacher up to Formula 1 in 2021.

The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is enjoying a much-improved F2 campaign this season, claiming eight podiums, including his first win of the year last Saturday at Monza.

Those results see him sit second in a highly competitive battle for the championship, with 33 points covering the top five in the standings.

But the interesting aspect is the two drivers either side of Schumacher are fellow Ferrari juniors, meaning all three are potential candidates for Antonio Giovinazzi's seat at Alfa Romeo next year.

“I think this season in F2 we have great drivers,” team boss Binotto said last Friday.

“We have certainly even three drivers battling for the championship - Robert Shwartzman, Callum Ilott and Mick Schumacher.

"I think they are all doing very well. They are showing progress compared to last season.

"For Robert, it’s his very first season in F2 and normally when you are a rookie it’s certainly more difficult and I think that as a rookie he is doing very well," he noted.

"I think the other two as well are doing well at the moment.

“Looking ahead, looking to next year, I think all of them merit a place into an F1 seat, but I think as well that the second half of the season will be the most important for them, especially for Robert, because he’s a rookie, let’s see how he will progress.”

For Mick, however, the one ace he clearly holds in his favour is his surname because the attention and marketing potential he would generate both for a team and the sport is clearly more substantial.

And that makes Binotto's next admission on the factors that will drive Ferrari's decision quite important, and potentially controversial.

“Will their performance be the only one? No," he said. "I think more important for a driver is to see he is developing and I think that he’s showing the capacity of developing himself and to make progress.”

Also Read:

• Ferrari pleased with Schumacher progress in F2 but still 'too early' for F1 call
• Mick Schumacher admits reaching F1 'not a guarantee' despite his surname

Though unconfirmed, another major indicator that Schumacher is set to get the nod comes from a claim by German TV channel RTL which says Mick will drive in Practice 1 at this weekend's Tuscan Grand Prix.

It is possible this could be as part of Ferrari's 1000th GP celebrations by paying tribute to the history between the Schumacher family and the team

But if true, it is expected he would do so with Alfa Romeo, given Haas has already released their information for the weekend to come.