Mick Schumacher says his mind was already “pretty much set on coming back in 2024, if not already in ’23” during his last race weekend in Formula 1.
After two years at Haas which yielded just two points-scoring finishes, the 2020 Formula 2 champion has lost his F1 seat for 2023 and it has been reported his time with the Ferrari Driver Academy will also come to an end imminently.Although Schumacher currently has nothing lined up for next year, he said his training this winter will be “the same” as usual as he will be “preparing to drive”.
The 2023 F1 grid is full, but Schumacher’s experience could put him in a good position to be a stand-in driver next year in the same way Nico Hulkenberg, his replacement at Haas, was for Aston Martin this season.
“I wouldn’t say I feel like I’m pole position [to be called up], but I do feel confident that I’ll be able to put something in line for me where I feel comfortable,” Schumacher said.
“I’ve shown my pace, and I know a lot of the people in the paddock are happy about how I’ve developed, so I’m sure that I’ll be able to talk to a great deal of teams.”
Although Schumacher has not explicitly said he has begun talks with any teams, he did say he’s “looking at my options, and Mercedes is a part of that” after Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff commented “we believe that we can look after” Schumacher, should he and his management want to join the team.
“My dad did the switch from Ferrari to Mercedes,” Schumacher added. “I don’t see a reason why not right now [to do the same].” Michael Schumacher returned to F1 as a race driver with Ferrari in 2010.
“But again, as I said earlier this week, I have time now,” Schumacher continued. “So I’ll consider all the options that I have to then hopefully make the right decision for me. It’s definitely very humbling to hear what Mercedes and especially Toto says about me.”
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BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2022, 18:04
I got the impression the team/Steiner seemed “done” with him all the way back after Monaco already.
But he really started having solid drives and in the second half of the season, I would say he actually did as good a job as his much more experienced teammate, who was (as he tends to be) too aggressive on track and hurt his own races several times.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
22nd November 2022, 19:18
@bascb I don’t understand the hype surrounding Mick. Bear with me, I love the fact that Michael’s son got his chance, and his surname sure is appealing for most, but really… his second season was BAD. Really bad. Appart from some good drives (which weren’t really high peaks) in the middle of the year, he kept making silly mistakes, crashing and generally being just slow. Rounding up your year with that touch with Latifi isn’t a good sign, a week after qualifying last when the other car sat on pole. He was outclassed by a driver that, IMO, is average already.
No wonder they decided to replace with with another average driver, but safer and more solid.
Who’s going to give him another try? better focus on getting a works Le Mans deal or something. There might be a good career there.
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
22nd November 2022, 23:36
@fer-no65
To be brutally honest and not putting him down the answer is whoever believes they will make more from being associated with the Schumacher name than what they pay him.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
23rd November 2022, 2:19
@fer-no65 fair points in general, but not really realistic to use the Magnussen pole as a point of comparison.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th November 2022, 18:42
@cairnsfella why not? even if “circumstances” helped, he still reached Q3 on merit, while Mick was dead last.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
27th November 2022, 1:00
Well, for the very reason that you’ve just highlighted yourself, i.e. reaching Q3 on merit vs last is a fair comparison, but my comment was the comparison to Magnussens pole.
MacLeod (@macleod)
23rd November 2022, 7:55
Mick problem is he always needs 2 solid season to get up to speed (Looking all the series he entered) But in F1 and with Haas that would be impossible. His crashes (totalloss x2) hurt the small team a lot and that is what Haas decided to kick Mick out of the team.
Lancer033 (@lancer033)
23rd November 2022, 11:00
that’s 2 seasons in a spec cars that didn’t really change. Mick’s problem is that F1 cars are new every year and evolve during the season. If he can’t adapt faster, i really don’t see a future for him in F1.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd November 2022, 11:21
Sigh. What “hype” @fer-no65?
I haven’t seen pretty much anyone talking about Schumacher jr. like a great star of F1 – not since about midway through his first season at least on here, and I myself certainly haven’t ever expected that much of him.
But when you compare him last (this?) season vs. his much more experienced teammate, he did pretty decently actually especially since Silverstone. Somewhere on the level of a Tsunoda, or a Zhou probably. He doesn’t “deserve” a drive, but on the other hand one could do worse. And yeah, his name will be a factor of interest to sponsors to help any deals he might make to remain/get back on the grid.
Hulkenberg is far more experienced. And he’s already shown flashes of great drives over time. Apart from that, at his age, I wouldn’t see this as a big step forward for Haas, although it is quite possible that they recognized they missed the experience from their drivers they had this year and especially last year compared to when they still had Grosjean and Mangussen.
It also seems to me that the Haas team is not a place to “nurture” a driver, Steiner doesn’t seem the type for it. The team itself is still developing and learning and there is nobody there who can coach a young driver (Magnussen certainly doesn’t seem to be the type for that)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th November 2022, 18:41
@bascb maybe “hype” isn’t correct, but i’ve seen a lot of people and a lot of articles from well known websites and publishers saying Mick deserved another season. Which I think is bonkers, really… if it was any other surname they’d be going at him, and not nicely.
I think Zhou’s season was spectacular, very solid and good flashes of performance. And Tsunoda had a rocky first season but he got consistent this year, albeit with a much worse car. Schumacher didn’t seem to improve much, even when he was racing no one other than Nikita he was binning it.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th November 2022, 12:42
You mention Schumacher did not seem to improve much – but at the same time you seem to conclude that from racing against Mazepin last year (btw, in a car that must have been a LOT worse to drive than what Tsunoda had THIS year), instead of looking at Schumacher’s solid drives in THIS season especially the second half where it is quite clear he actually HAS improved a lot @fer-no65.
Maybe your own view is influenced by your dislike of some of those over the top media who try to talk Mick up as if he was as good as his fater for clicks on their articles?
Tsunoda did get more consistent this year, but he did also lose some of his exciting and sometimes almost brilliant pace at the same time. Might be in part to do with the bad car, but still, not only positives IMO.
I luv chicken
22nd November 2022, 18:25
Sounds like Mick has been listening to Niki Mazepin positive thinking tapes. Sorry son, there’s no room at the inn. Time to move on.
Leroy (@g-funk)
22nd November 2022, 19:05
That’s a bit unfair. Mick has more talent than some others who were on the grid this season. But he doesn’t have huge sponsorship deals to sweeten the pot. He’s always been slow to come up to speed, but once he does he has done very well. Obviously in F1, he has taken too long to get up to speed for Haas’ needs but I think he would do well as a test/reserve driver to get him some more time to get used to the cars without the pressure of driving for a team that can’t afford repair bills.
Jason (@jasonj)
22nd November 2022, 20:10
I can’t understand your thinking on this at all, Mick has been in the sport for 2 full years and has shown no promise of talent. His first year he was partnered with Mazepin who shouldn’t have been in F1, that year Mick was just as bad and clearly as untalented as Mazepin. It was said often that the car was appalling as a cover for untalented hack drivers. Then the brought Magnussen back from the scrapyard and dusted him off, he was instantly miles ahead of Schumacher, no one think Magnussen is anything but a middling to competent driver. Mick was awful against a guy that was deemed not good enough for a drive. If he was thrust into a Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull, he would still be at the lower back end of the grid, he just doesn’t have what an F1 driver needs. His name is the only thing he has and that isn’t enough. So many talented drivers never get a chance, Mick had more than 40 chances to impress, his team principal couldn’t wait to get rid of him.
Neil (@neilosjames)
22nd November 2022, 19:14
I suspect the only way he’ll be back in a race seat at F1 weekends in 2024 is if Formula E signs a support series contract.
It’s sad because I like the idea of having a Schumacher in F1, but I don’t think he showed enough to make me think he deserves another shot. There are only 20 seats… take away his surname and he’s just another youngster who didn’t take his chance to show he deserved one of them.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
22nd November 2022, 19:58
He’s definitely not the worst driver on the grid.
Frank V (@suprem3cy)
22nd November 2022, 20:21
I would think a maybe he would replace Robert Kubica as Alfa’s reserve driver and be next in line to take Bottas or Zhou’s seat if they don’t renew their contract???
Turch17 (@turch17)
23rd November 2022, 0:25
Bottas and Zhou’s contract are only till 2023, but Theo Pourchaire is part of Sauber driving academy and is the reserve driver for 2023.
I don’t think they have a spot for Mick there, they have a very experience driver and one on his second year, plus a rookie as a reserve driver.
Mick wasn’t as fast as KMag and has a 2 year F1 experience, not the best CV to come back.
Simon
22nd November 2022, 21:51
Two authors, one 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 typo…
TurboBT
23rd November 2022, 11:18
Ferrari?
kpcart
23rd November 2022, 2:25
not coming back without the ferrari sponsorship anymore.
TurboBT
23rd November 2022, 11:19
If he doesnt get the chance with ferrari then he has the option to sign for mercedes, as toto mentioned it.
Sam
23rd November 2022, 4:14
So he is not a pay driver? This surprises me given that sponsors would surely see an appeal in such a famous name. Also, his family probably have some spare cash available.
Anyway, he is not dreadful but seems a bit weak for F1. He could probably have a successful career, maybe even win championships, racing prototypes, gts, maybe even Indycars.
MacLeod (@macleod)
23rd November 2022, 8:04
He isn’t that bad like Latiffi but compaired to the current youngsters Charles, Lando, Albon, Yuki Zhou and Max he is lacking. His family money isn’t endless as the care of his father is a big cost for them. He has some sponsors the same as his father which gives a decent amount but the problem is the teams doesn’t need big money inputs rather a good driver who helps the team rise a spot in the championship.
slowmo (@slowmo)
23rd November 2022, 18:07
While ever Stroll is still on the grid, many of other drivers should feel aggrieved at losing their drive. I didn’t follow Mick’s year very closely but ultimately by the time he got to grips with this years car, the rather predictable lack of development by Haas had kicked in. If I was Mercedes I’d be looking at drafting in him as a reserve driver, I think he might yet be a solid driver for a team in the future albeit not one of the generational talents like Verstappen. Magnusson owes him a few drinks as he made him look very good at the start of the year.