Mick Schumacher tests DTM Mercedes at Nürburgring

Michael Schumacher rose the ranks in Mercedes' young driver program in the late 1980s and early 90s, also finishing his Formula 1 career with three seasons driving the Silver Arrows in F1. 

Now, his son Mick is progressing up the junior series, competing this year for the Formula 3 championship. 

Schumacher the younger took time out from his typical F3 duties on Friday, however, to try out the Mercedes DTM (German Touring Car) around the Nürburgring. 

"I had a lot of fun. That was a very worthwhile experience," Schumacher said after the test drive. The original plan was to allow Schumacher to drive demonstration laps in the same DTM Mercedes that Michael Schumacher raced in 1990 and 1991; but the car was ultimately not fit for use on the day.

Read more: Michael Schumacher's son wins first Formula 4 race

Austrian ex-driver and DTM series executive Gerhard Berger, who raced against Schumacher in F1 in the 1990s, was delighted to see the teenager following in his father and his Uncle Ralf's footsteps.

"To see the kid, how he's gradually exhibiting that Schumacher gene and today got to experience our DTM cars, I was watching with real joy," Berger said after the demonstration. "Michael Schumacher is a legend, he's the best F1 driver of all time."

Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver in F1 history, with 91 race wins and seven world championships to his name. He has been absent from public life since sustaining a serious head injury while skiing in December 2013. 

Once back in his ordinary cockpit for his day-job, Mick Schmacher just missed out on pole position for the first race of this weekend's F3 action at the Nürburgring, which will take place on Saturday. He qualified second, just 0.047 seconds slower than his teammate Robert Shwartzman.