One rung below Formula One, he won the European F3 title last year.
"Being compared to my father was never a problem for me. It is pretty simple," he said in a video released by his Prema team, who won the 2017 F2 title with current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
"Being compared to the best driver in F1 history is the goal you want to achieve and to have that as my idol and my father is something very special," he added.
"I feel honoured to be compared to him because I can just learn and try to improve."
Michael Schumacher, now 50, has not been seen in public since he suffered a serious head injury in a skiing accident in France in 2013.
The German won five of his titles with Ferrari, the sport's most glamorous team, between 2000 and 2004 and still holds the record of 91 race wins.
"I can learn so much from Ferrari because they have so much experience," said Mick.
"And so that is going to be a point where I want to work with them to be achieving the maximum I can."
(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Christian Radnedge)
