Mick Schumacher will remain in Formula 1, but will not be a regular driver at least in the coming season. After losing his cockpit at Team Haas, Schumacher will in future work as a reserve driver at Mercedes. This means a great opportunity for the pilot.
Mick Schumacher remains in Formula 1 and becomes a reserve driver at Mercedes. As the factory team announced, the 23-year-old will receive a contract for the coming season and will work for the German car manufacturer, where his father Michael Schumacher ended his glorious career as a racing driver in 2012. After two years with the US racing team Haas, Mick Schumacher had not received a new contract beyond the end of the year and had not found a place as a regular driver elsewhere. Compatriot Nico Hülkenberg will take over his previous cockpit.
"I see this as a kind of fresh start," said Schumacher in a statement: "Formula 1 is a fascinating world where you never stop learning. I look forward to absorbing even more knowledge and all for the benefit of the Mercedes team admit." Schumacher had repeatedly emphasized that he absolutely wanted to stay in the racing series. However, the former Formula 2 champion could not recommend himself for higher tasks at Haas, and his contract in Ferrari's junior program was not renewed either. The seats at the Scuderia are firmly assigned to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. At Mercedes, Schumacher is now a reserve man for Lewis Hamilton, who, like his father Michael, is a record world champion with seven world titles, and the second Briton, George Russell.
After a difficult year with two serious and expensive accidents in Saudi Arabia and Monaco, Haas decided against signing Schumacher. Team boss Günther Steiner and owner Gene Haas wanted a driver for the season beginning in March 2023 who could "carry" the racing team, but Schumacher should have been carried, said Steiner. The German only scored points twice in 22 races this year and finished 16th in the overall standings with twelve points.
At Mercedes, they are looking forward to their third man: "Mick is a talented young driver, a hard worker, has a calm and methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver," said team boss Toto Wolff. "These are all important qualities and we look forward to him helping us further develop the W14."
Schumacher had repeatedly emphasized that he absolutely wanted to stay in Formula 1. In the coming season he will probably mainly do his laps in the simulator, but he can also hope for racing: The 23-year-old is not only available as a reserve driver for Mercedes, but also for the Mercedes customer teams McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin. With the exception of Williams, all cars are significantly more competitive than the Haas, which has been significantly too slow in recent years.
(This article was first published on Thursday, December 15, 2022.)
