The trip into the summer heat of Budapest comes at just the right time for Mick Schumacher. Finishing twelfth, he achieved the best result of his Formula 1 premiere season in Hungary last year, but his goals have long been higher.
"I expect that we're pretty strong," said the 23-year-old before the last Grand Prix before the summer break and on Sunday (3:00 p.m. / Sky) he will look at World Championship points again: "It's always nice and warm, that lies in our car."
The trend is upwards
In the Haas racing car, the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher wants to present further arguments for a quick contract extension beyond the end of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. A final decision will be made during the more than three-week break before it continues in Belgium at the end of August. "Unfortunately, we didn't get off to a good start in the year, but now we can still rehabilitate ourselves and end the season well," said Schumacher, who recently had to accept another sporting disappointment.
After finishing eighth in Great Britain and sixth in Austria, Schumacher was only 15th and last in France last Sunday in a messed-up weekend. It didn't work out that way with the points hat-trick, but the trend is still positive. After much criticism at the beginning of the season due to mistakes and accidents, Schumacher has recovered. "I'm very happy for Mick," said friend and compatriot Sebastian Vettel. According to the ex-world champion, the youngster really deserves the improvement, including the first World Cup points.
What's next for Schumacher?
So what stands in the way of a new working paper in Formula 1? It almost seems clear that another year at Haas is the only logical option. "He just has to do a good job," said team boss Günther Steiner when asked what Schumacher would have to do to be behind the wheel of Haas in 2023.
There will still be no seat at Ferrari, whose junior program includes the former Formula 2 champion. In the future, the Scuderia will rely on Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, and the fans will have to wait for a second Schumacher after his father with the Italians.
As 15th overall, Schumacher is only three points behind 14th Vettel with his twelve points. In Hungary he could already overtake the four-time world champion for the first time in his career, who will end his glorious career after this season. Vettel, who will not renew his contract with Aston Martin, is currently still an important advisor and helper for Schumacher.
After the holiday comes the peak phase of the season
Vettel is now clear after his announcement. For Schumacher, this should take a while, at least Haas never announced his drivers for the coming year before the summer break. Schumacher wants to make good use of the free weeks in August and "recharge the batteries as much as possible," he said: "I'll chill, enjoy not having a busy schedule and see some friends."
It gets more intense in the second half of the season. After three races in three weeks in Europe, exhausting trips to Singapore, Japan, the USA, Mexico, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates are still pending. "I hope after the break we'll get into a groove and try to score points in every race," said Steiner.
Then Schumacher should also have a technically improved car. In Hungary, only teammate Kevin Magnussen will have the upgrades available on his car as only new parts could be made for one car due to production issues. The reason for this was Schumacher's expensive accidents at the start of the year. The Dane Magnussen is now preferred with the new technique, as he is 11th in the World Championship standings ahead of his German stable rival.
