A young karter with a famous name and a dream

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We wish a happy 20th birthday to Mick Schumacher today, one week before the young German takes his next step up the motorsport ladder when the FIA Formula 2 championship kicks off in Bahrain.

As the highest profile member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Schumacher's destiny appears fixed and clear, with an entry into Formula 1 likely awaiting Mick in the next couple of years.

So far, it's been a straightforward and productive path which logically started in karting back in 2011, when Schumacher was a young racer with a famous father and a big dream.

However, for all the thunder produced by his name, Michael Schumacher's son has mainly relied on himself and an astute entourage to progress through the ranks, having been deprived of his dad's presence at his side by circumstances.

Mick's talent was perhaps inherited, but his character is his own.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.