In the round-up: Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says the bill for damage caused by Mick Schumacher last season was $2 million (£1.6m).
In brief
Steiner reveals cost of Schumacher’s crashes
Haas dropped Schumacher at the end of the year due to concerns over the costs of his crashes over the course of the year. His position was in doubt following a heavy impact in qualifying at Jeddah and another substantial crash in Monaco.
Late in the year Schumacher crashed again after leaving the pits to perform a practice start in wet conditions during first practice at Suzuka. In his forthcoming book, an extract of which was published last weekend by The Times, Steiner is quoted saying that crash alone cost the team $700,000 (£563,000).
“It happened on the foking in-lap,” says Steiner in his book. “On the in-lap! Sure, it was very wet out there on the track, but nobody else managed to write off a car while they were driving back to the pits.
“We lose a car after five minutes and now have to build another. I cannot have a driver who I am not confident can take a car around safely on a slow lap. It’s just foking ridiculous. How many people could we employ with $700,000?”
Nojiri leads penalised Lawson after Fuji opener
Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson was unable to repeat his season-opening win in the second Japanese Super Formula race at Fuji. Team mate Tomoki Nojiri claimed his second pole position and this time converted it into victory, taking the championship lead along with it.Toshiki Oyu took the lead of the race from third on the grid but Nojiri returned to the front when the field pitted en masse during a Safety Car period. Oyu dropped back after locking up his tyres in an unsuccessful attempt to regain the lead.
Lawson worked his way up to third behind Sho Tsuboi at the chequered flag, but the officials had already handed him a five-second time penalty for an infringement during the Safety Car period. That promoted Kenta Yamashita and Ritomo Miyata ahead of him in the final classification. The series continues at Suzuka in two weeks’ time.
Leclerc asks fans to “respect my privacy”
Charles Leclerc has urged fans not to visit his home after details of his address was revealed. The Ferrari driver, who was the victim of a mugging in which his watch was taken last year, said on social media: “For the past few months, my home address has somehow become public, leading to people gathering beneath my apartment, ringing my bell, and asking for pictures and autographs.”
“While I’m always happy to be there for you and I truly appreciate your support, please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house,” Leclerc continued. “I’ll make sure to stop for everyone when you see me on the streets or at the track, but I won’t be coming downstairs if you visit my home.
“Your support, both in person and on social media, means the world to me, but there is a boundary that should not be crossed.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
The Belgian Grand Prix organisers are growing more hopeful of agreeing an extension on their F1 contract, which expires after this year's race, amid rumours the South African Grand Prix will not be ready to join the calendar next year.
Newgarden and engineer Mason strike gold fast in Texas (Racer)
'In typical Newgarden fashion, the Texas win introduced a new celebratory wrinkle to the series as Schnabel, who was on the number two car in 2022 and also doubles as race engineer for Penske-affiliated Indy NXT driver Ernie Francis Jnr, was awarded Mjolnir — aka Thor’s hammer — at Texas, which replaces the Chalice of Excellence, the former intra-crew award presented to a member of Newgarden’s team.'
Juju Noda joins the Euroformula Open (Euroformula Open)
'Juju Noda will be the tenth female driver to compete in the F3-based series organized by GT Sport since 2001, succeeding María de Villota, Ianina Zanazzi, Natacha Gachnang, Carmen Jordá, Vicky Piria, Michela Cerruti, Valeria Carballo, Tatiana Calderón and Vivien Keszthelyi.'
On Melbourne grand prix safety, it’s three strikes and ... (The Age)
'It raises the question of how safe a temporary circuit can ever be. The commercial benefits of holding the race within our city – the money spent on hotels, bars, entertainment and shopping – have always been prioritised over safety. But inarguably, the massive risks inherent in motor sport are minimised when the event is staged at a purpose-built racetrack, not one that is assembled and dismantled each year.'
Making waves in Australia: Bruno Michel's debrief (F3)
"We decided to have an open paddock so that we could get them as close as possible to our teams and our drivers. We also planned several trips to the Melbourne Walk. Yet, we were not ready for the amount of passion and the fans’ interest in our Championship. "
What to eat at the 2023 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix (Miami New Times)
'General admission access will present guests with a lineup of vendor offerings from local restaurants like Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, Cantina La Veinte, Casa Florida, Dōma, Café Versailles, Tacology, Harry's Pizzeria, Pubbelly Sushi, and Dos Croquetas.'
Analysing the last part of my race at Texas superspeedway (Grosjean via YouTube)
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Unfortunately we didn't make it to the end of the 6h, we’re running on podium places… Great to have been able to rub shoulders with #Alesi for a white, not everyday we share a car with a driver who scored 32 podium in #F1! And this car was built by the genius #Colinchapman ! pic.twitter.com/4FlXDKtzk0
— Stéphane Richelmi (@StefRichelmi) April 9, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
This weekend’s Caption Competition was won by Chris:
“Zak, it’s Daniel. Sorry, mate. They found the tiny cameras.”
Chris Coppulotta
Thanks very much to everyone who joined in, especially Scakextric, Nulla Pax, Red Andy and Derek Edwards whose suggestions also made our shortlist of potential winners.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Roberttty and Browny!
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The limit
10th April 2023, 0:19
What I find laughable is that Steiner can bad mouth Mick Schumacher all he wants, but it was Steiner and the Haas organization that hired Mick in the first place. With Mick being so ‘bad’ a driver according to Steiner, that tells me more of his lack of judgement as a team boss than it does Mick’s lack of talent.
It’s for this reason that I don’t respect Steiner or this team. Rather than wasting time slating past drivers, why not build a race car worth a damn that can even make a podium. How about that Gunther.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
10th April 2023, 1:53
I also don’t believe mick schumacher had enough time to develop, a year in a terrible car alongside mazepin is worth nothing, might as well be driving in f2, cause that’s the level of both car and driver, so to me he was basically in his first year when he was up against magnussen, and there were drivers who got more time to make some experience even at red bull, like albon, gasly or vandoorne at mclaren, despite red bull being criticized for being too harsh with their drivers, and at least red bull have the excuse that they’re a top team for firing drivers “early”, haas don’t even have that.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
10th April 2023, 9:14
@esploratore1
Schumacher’s problem was the amount of damage he was already causing though. Even though Mazepin was terrible, he didn’t cost the team in damages anything like as much as schumaher. And damages cost is Steiner’s main point. I’m unconvinced any other driver in the last decade will have cause as much damage cost wise in a season as Schumacher. And for a struggling team at the time like Haas, it is very costly for them.
anon
10th April 2023, 13:56
@thegianthogweed Mazepin supposedly still cost the team quite a bit during his sole year in 2021 – a figure of about €2.5 million has been mentioned, which made him amongst the more expensive drivers that year.
Whilst Mick supposedly was the most expensive driver in 2021 for accidents, Leclerc supposedly cost Ferrari virtually as much (both cost their team more than €4 million each). Others cost their teams quite substantially too – Latifi and Tsunoda had some fairly expensive crashes, for example.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
10th April 2023, 16:56
Maybe I’m wrong then, but I even think there was an article on this site, and I think Schumacher was at the top of the list in terms of damage costs in 2021 and I didn’t think mazepin was anywhere close – and I think other drivers caused more damage than him. I will try and hunt for that article.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
10th April 2023, 17:20
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/73860/f1-crash-costs-revealed-for-each-driver/
Here are the 2021 damage costs.
What does surprise me and proves your point about Leclerc is that he was the 2nd most expensive driver in terms of damage costs – and not far off schumacher at all. But at least he was great between the damage.
However, Mazepin is in 8th in terms if the most expensive driver.
My point was the difference between Schumacher and Mazepin. Schumacher cost the team about £1.7m more which is I would say is a monumental difference between team mates given how terrible everyone claimed Mazpin to be. He certainly wasn’t anything like as crash prone as schumacher despite both driving the same awful car.
some racing fan
11th April 2023, 5:49
HAHAHAHAHAHA
anon
11th April 2023, 14:58
@thegianthogweed the figure quoted for Mick was highest at €4.2 million, with Leclerc next at €4.05 million. Whilst others did have higher costs, Mazepin was 8th highest at €2.5 million, placing him towards the more expensive end of the scale.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
10th April 2023, 20:24
This is true, steiner seems to look at the amount of damage more than other teams.
Sergey Martyn
11th April 2023, 18:05
Hey folks, have you forgot it was Mazepin’s dad who sponsored Haas?
Kringle
10th April 2023, 9:54
sAvagE
sam
10th April 2023, 17:43
childish
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
10th April 2023, 20:22
Know what? I don’t care about capital letters at all, also I’m a grammar naz*, so from now on you’re noted on my list where I correct the smallest mistake I see!
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
10th April 2023, 20:23
Plus if I recall you’re also the one who keeps criticizing jere’s posting times and all, not a good look imo.
David (@nvherman)
10th April 2023, 20:59
You are why we need the ability to block certain posters
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
10th April 2023, 8:41
No. Mick was in Hass because of Ferrari. https://www.racefans.net/2021/04/02/schumachers-place-at-haas-down-to-ferrari-not-sponsor-steiner/
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
10th April 2023, 9:07
… and you know what that means? Exactly, Haas made a lot of money from running Mick.
Let’s put a number to that, Günther.
Bonbonjai
10th April 2023, 11:09
All rookie drivers have crash periods. No one can predict which drivers is going to be crash prone or not, so knocking Gunther for that seems silly to me. In this cost cap era the odd crash understandably, but he Mick just had too many. And decidedly odd one to boot. For the budget Haas has had these last few years them still been on the grid alone is testament to Gunther work. And this year’s car is not look bad either. So no Haas and Gunther are doing fine.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
10th April 2023, 19:11
At the end of the day, Steiner is right. The real McCoys don’t write of cars on the in-lap. No point in wasting time with Mick after two years, and Hulkenberg is showing it was the right decision.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
10th April 2023, 20:26
Günther Steiner wouldn’t recognize a real McCoy if he had his passport right in front of his eyes.
This is the man who hired Kevin Magnussen. Twice.
Jere (@jerejj)
10th April 2023, 5:45
Interesting, but the same monocoque copy (02) ultimately got re-used for the last two race weekends, so not a total write-off.
Nojiri made up for race 1 loss in the best possible way & an unfortunate time penalty for Lawson, but rules are rules.
I wonder how Leclerc’s address could’ve realistically got out, given he’s never shared that with strangers.
I don’t think Google search gives any driver’s specific residential address other than the country or city.
However, people may have seen which apartment building he walks into, although the same could also be true for the other drivers who officially reside in Monaco.
Weird, but still, some boundaries indeed exist & should be respected.
The South African GP has seemingly halted for now, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the Belgian GP would survive for another season as another location could force out instead.
Commercial benefits prioritized over safety?
No wonder premature track invasions (& a premature pit lane access) have happened more than once.
In the end, nothing is more important than safety & other temporary circuits seemingly don’t have the same issue, so only an Albert Park-specific issue.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
10th April 2023, 9:05
How much money has Günther Steiner cost the Hass team by re-hiring Kevin Magnussen?
BasCB (@bascb)
11th April 2023, 8:38
:-) Yeah, @proesterchen.
This reaction of his also shows how they had already stopped giving Mick any fair chance early in the season and then only played games in the press over who they would hire (and from what Mick said in interviews they possibly weren’t even fair to him to hide that from him) and giving him a chance to make up the deficit.
bosyber (@bosyber)
11th April 2023, 17:06
And it doesn’t seem that they gave him much help in improving either last season, which you know, might have helped reduce the sum too @bascb and @proesterchen, I don’t think that Haas has been a great nursing ground for its drivers, seeing how Hulkenberg is doing so much better than Magnussen after being out of the sport for a bit!
Dex
10th April 2023, 9:54
Drivers make obvious mistakes (and they are part of the job, as the risks are often calculated, more you push, more you risk it). We’ll never now how expensive were this Steiner guy’s mistakes, if income could be higher and by how much, or if he could further reduce expenses, sign better sponsors, hire better people… Haas team had its own scandals with fraudulent companies as sponsors, oligarchs buying seats… Besides, this man really enjoys his role of an unnoficial F1 clown mascot. How about some loyalty to your drivers, current or former?
RatSack
10th April 2023, 13:23
I agree, I cannot help but feel the Haas team could achieve a whole lot more with a competent team principal and better decision making. They have a tendency to just let bad things happen to them by chasing money rather than taking charge of their fate. Get bad sponsor, inherent bad driver and cheap out on car development so their car is rubbish by the four or fifth race of the season. Mick Schumacher was a chance for the team to get some good German sponsorship and support from Ferrari but they blew it. He was known to be a driver who takes awhile to get comfortable from junior formula but once he is comfortable he does well. However rather than support him they pressured him after a few early season crashes which undermined his confidence and led to him driving too carefully, basically putting him into a confidence death spiral.
W (@vishnusxdx)
10th April 2023, 9:59
So the problem was Schumacher and not the total disaster-on-wheels and PR bomb that was Nikita Mazepin? This reads very much like him covering up bad decisions and mistakes as managers.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
10th April 2023, 10:03
The way Steiner talks about Schumacher is how people talk about an abusive ex.
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
10th April 2023, 13:18
Maybe he did, yet how much money did his name and sponsorship bring to the team? Remember when you were scrambling to grab him before Alfa a couple of years ago because of the monetary opportunities? When you had that amazing safe pair of hands Mazepin on the books.
You invest in a young promising driver knowing there will be the odd calamity, offset in this instance by his name and sponsorship and future returns when he matures. Except poor management put this driver under unnecessary pressure and belittlement instead of nurturing a talent. He had done his 2 years apprenticeship where hopefully the mistakes were out the system. Why drop him then?
That being said Hulkenberg looks back to his hungry best but what the whole thing epitomises for me is Haas’ poor leadership, poor decision making and poor man management. Very little integrity also.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
10th April 2023, 13:35
I’ve got a lot of sympathy for Guenther but I’m not sure what he expected here. He fell out with 2 fairly solid, dependable midfield runners for running into each other constantly and hired 2 rookies to replace them. Alarm bells for a cost cap should have been ringing fairly in 2020.
For me though the main worry at Haas has always been their marketing. I know Williams also fell into a stupid sponsorship deal with Rokit but after being stung by Rich Energy they should have marketed Schumacher better. We know the reasons the car was red, white and blue – but it made it look horribly bare sponsorship wise. Could they not have used a bit more red around the cockpit so that the close ups of Mick evoked memories of his dad?
I think both Haas and Steiner felt the money from Urakali and Schumacher’s sponsors would amount to more than it did in the end. Mick was the F2 Champion at the time too and I feel they belittled that at the time. Obviously Piastri had a better title season than Mick but they way it’s compared it’s as though Mick was awarded it solely for his surname.
If Haas had done a better job internally at marketing, I think Mick’s crashes could be overlooked providing it was a one season affair. Do I think Mick would be matching Hulk’s qualifying performances? In a word – no. Hopefully both will reflect that neither were perfect and the relationship was a missed opportunity.
bosyber (@bosyber)
11th April 2023, 17:20
Hm, that seem quite well put @rbalonso, I do feel that HAAS isn’t great at marketing in general, taking it for granted that somehow being in F1 will lead to the HAAS tool company getting wider reach, but not really doing all that much to build on their presence in F1. I mean, if they’d look at how Red Bull are doing. Sure Red Bull have a relatively consistent ‘adventure and daring events’ especially for younger people message and sponsor a host of sports and events, and HAAS isn’t Red Bull, clearly, but some kind of central theme surely could be found that matches, more than just ‘we are around’.
elchinero (@elchinero)
10th April 2023, 13:41
“A million here, a million there … eventually it adds up to real money.” U.S. Senator Everett Dircksen
floodo1 (@floodo1)
10th April 2023, 14:18
So annoying listening to back marker teams whine about money
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
10th April 2023, 14:30
I wonder how much Grojean ended up costing the team over his term with Haas?
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
10th April 2023, 14:31
sp. Grosjean
Edvaldo
10th April 2023, 16:05
Mick is gone man, enough already.
The only not crash-prone driver Haas ever had just got there, Hulkenberg.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
10th April 2023, 17:36
I think Hulkenberg is pretty crash prone too, but less so than magnussen and Grosjean overall.
Quite a few examples come to mind quickly. Germany 2019, Also remember Spa 2018 when he had a total lack of awareness with breaking and resulted in 5 drivers retiring. Abu Dhabi 2018 when he fliped himself upside down with another lack of spacial awareness. Then 2 years in a row he misjudged a corner at Baku breaking his wheel on both occations.
That isn’t even the end of the list.
Hulkenberg however was the most impressive driver on the gird last race I’d say. But I most definately would not call him a non-crash prone driver.
George.be
10th April 2023, 19:51
Mick is gone, but for all the wrong reasons, IMHO.
Steiner was all over Mick because he was slower than Magnussen instead of getting Mick the guidance needed. Mick was a non-rookie rookie, because 2021 was a wasted year in an absolute dog of a car that was already slow in 2020.
Steiner swearing over the in-lap incident: A bit of history: Grosjean in a HAAS crashing running behind the SC… don’t remember the place or time, Ayrton crashing while a minute in front in Monaco, Michael S. destroying two cars on the way to his grid spot in China 2005. David C crashing in the pitlane in Australia 1995. Stupid mistakes happen.
The Monaco crash is what you get if you set the bounce-prone car too low on a wet racetrack. Three inches off the line and you’re a passenger. Who has made / allowed that setup? Had Mick not collided with the front section of the guardrails, the expected damages were to be close to none, but he took the worsst imaginable angle on the worst part of the circuit.
Sainz got extremely lucky, in the same weekend
Museo
10th April 2023, 16:27
Can anyone explain to me why Mick has such a defense force? he was a mediocre driver in two seasons he never really impressed and he wasn’t all that hot in F2 either, needed two years to win and didn’t dominate, he wasn’t Leclerc or Russell level, Piastri was a far more impressive F2 rookie champion and doesn’t have 1% of the defense Mick has.
Just being a Schumacher doesn’t make you a speed god, have people forgot Ralf?, most family members of a F1 driver aren’t as good, Prost also had a son (who sucked), Senna had a nephew he hyped up (he sucked) and let’s not even begin to talk about Piquet Jr.
Maybe if Mick landed on Alfa instead of Hass he would still be here just for his name and sponsors like Zhou but he never looked like he had the speed to be more than that.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
10th April 2023, 21:04
Nothing to do with being a schumacher, I can see vandoorne in a similar situation: terrible car, super strong team mate, didn’t get that much time to learn, mick schumacher was treated unfairly, he can be a fine midfield driver imo. I’m not saying he can be a michael!
David (@nvherman)
10th April 2023, 21:06
And you don’t see anyone from McLaren slagging Vandoorne off after the event either
David (@nvherman)
10th April 2023, 21:05
It’s not so much people defending Schumacher, it’s more that Steiner’s criticism comes across as very unfair: why keep going on about it when you’d already sacked him. Just a complete lack of class, but then, suppose we should expect that, given that it’s Steiner.
bosyber (@bosyber)
11th April 2023, 17:27
Indeed @nvherman, I was skeptical of Mick Schumacher too, and didn’t really see a lot that said he’d be an F1 star yet.
But HAAS didn’t seem to do much to improve him either, and now he’s gone they only mention he cost a lot of money (without mentioning the reason he got the seat initially: Ferrari wanted him, which likely was a in their engine/parts costs, as they do get a lot of their components from that same Ferrari), but had they been able to improve their car (and help Mick improve as best they and he could be!) he, and Magnussen, might actually gotten them some points that could have compensated those costs.
I guess Mercedes (no big monetary incentive I don’t think) saw enough in him that they think they can profit from having him in their team. Perhaps with a look to German sponsors, but surely for a team like that it also means it can help the racing team, and they also clearly believe they can help him improve too. I’m curious to see where he ends up with that experience in a team like them.
slowmo (@slowmo)
11th April 2023, 23:25
I imagine Wolff took a look and thought he’d be a great number 2 driver for Russell with a couple of development years under their roof. If nothing else he fills a gap while they evaluate him. I don’t think Mick is the next generational talent in the sport but he could still be good enough to race at a high level with time.
Jazz (@jazz)
10th April 2023, 17:34
If anyone wants to give me Max’s address, I’ll pound that intercom button 24/7 all the way to Baku departure.
But seriously, really feel for Charlie, when will he have a turn of luck?
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
10th April 2023, 19:05
Check out the book “The Martian”.
Mark Whatney, Log Entry: Sol 6.
A similar use of colorful language. To great effect.
Qeki (@qeki)
11th April 2023, 5:45
The rising cost of living hitted Schumacher also.
I’m also wondering is foking a word which will be cencored
some racing fan
11th April 2023, 5:58
There is no way Mick caused more damage than Mazespin. No way.
some racing fan
11th April 2023, 6:00
Also- if we are accounting for accident damage, the king of that is probably Andrea de Cesaris in 1981. He had 19 crashes in that one season alone. So adjusting for inflation, his total is probably twice or three times that of Mick or Mazespin’s.