Mercedes steps up move for Schumacher jr - report

Nov.15 (GMM) Michael Schumacher's teenage son appears in the middle of a scrap between Ferrari and Mercedes over his future.

Last week, 16-year-old Mick tested for the European F3 team Prema, an Italian outfit with close links to Ferrari.

Schumacher's famous father Michael won five world championships with Ferrari, but his last team in F1 was Mercedes.

Indeed, Mercedes has invited Mick to its end-of-season Stars and Cars event in Stuttgart, and according to the Kolner Express tabloid is now stepping up its quest to secure Mick's future.

Schumacher's current F4 outfit, the Dutch team Van Amersfoort, was powered by Volkswagen engines in European F3 this year, where Mick is now tipped to move for 2016.

And Express said Van Amersfoort is moving to Mercedes power for 2016.

Boss Frits van Amersfoort denies it. "Not all the contracts are signed for next year -- not even with Mick," he said.

As for Mick's test with Prema, reportedly under the watchful eye of Ferrari's Luca Baldisserri, van Amersfoort insists: "It is normal that drivers do that in the winter, it's no problem.

"Mick's test times were good, but we were faster."