The hardest weeks are beginning for Mick Schumacher since he has been driving in Formula 1. He still doesn’t have a contract for next year and his team boss is demanding better results. It could go wrong.
The impression left by Mick Schumacher after qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps was rather contrite. The 23-year-old had big plans. In fact, for once, Schumacher was faster than teammate Kevin Magnussen in qualifying. Nevertheless, the young pilot looked dissatisfied in front of the TV microphone. He knows his career will be at stake in the coming weeks and a mistake like the one he made on the last lap is more than annoying.
“Qualifying wasn’t our primary focus. I gave it my all, but unfortunately didn’t hit the last lap,” said Schumacher. What he meant: He made it to the second round of qualifying, but then made a mistake. That’s how he ended up in 15th place. It doesn’t matter that even with a perfect lap in the Haas, he would hardly have finished further up the field. First of all, the Hass is barely fast enough and since his car was illegally given new parts for an update he would have been relegated anyway. He will now start the race in the Ardennes from 20th place. So last.
Mick Schumacher desperately needs better results
Schumacher is in desperate need of results because he doesn’t yet have a contract for next year. There is no final proof that the record world champion’s son inevitably belongs to the select circle of 20 Formula 1 drivers. At least that’s what racing team boss Günther Steiner demands.
Schumacher’s results so far this season have been meager despite having a competitive car with Magnussen. And his teammate is often superior to him. Only in two races did Schumacher make it into the points. He has 12 points while Magnussen has 22. He also lost most of the qualifying sessions against Magnussen. That’s rarely a good thing in Formula 1. In most races, Schumacher ended up ahead of the Dane, but only in the lower places without points.
In general, the relationship with team boss Steiner is divided. At least that’s how it looks on the outside. The spirited South Tyrolean, who also likes to get louder, has often criticized his protégé in the past few months, often in public, only to then take him back to his protection. On the outside, it gives the impression that he doesn’t really believe in the talent of his young pilot. In fact, Magnussen received new parts for an update to his car earlier than Schumacher and has a contract under his belt for 2023.
His chances with other teams are rather slim
Now there are theoretically other racing teams where Schumacher could stay. But his chances are considered slim. Alpine (Renault) is looking for a driver for the new season, but the Australian Daniel Ricciardo is the favourite, and Steiner is said to have also spoken to Ricciardo on the phone. Haas himself brought in Antonio Giovinazzi as backup driver, an experienced driver who might as well take Schumacher’s place.
Courage encourages Schumacher’s uncle Ralf. He sees the contract poker for his nephew relaxed despite the rumors and speculation. “I don’t know what else Haas should do, because there aren’t that many drivers with experience,” said the Sky expert. Perhaps Schumacher can also hope that technology partner Ferrari will use its say in filling the second cockpit for him. Schumacher belonged to the Ferrari Driver Academy. And of course Ferrari will keep a protective hand over Michael Schumacher’s son for as long as is reasonable.
But the pressure is immense and the famous name is just as much of a burden. What speaks for Mick: Steiner had already counted his pilot publicly. Schumacher had made a poor start to the season, twice wrecking his car when Steiner burst out and finally claimed a top ten finish in the race. Schumacher delivered and scored the first points of his career in eighth place at Silverstone in Britain. In Spielberg in Austria he even made it over the finish line in sixth place. Then two races followed before the summer break, in which both Haas pilots came away empty-handed.
So now Spa, one of Formula 1’s most popular circuits. It’s the first of nine remaining races this year. 30 years after his father Michael’s first Formula 1 victory on the Belgian courage track, the son needs a special moment in the race for his future. “Spa is the living room of our family,” said Mick Schumacher – a sentence that his father once formulated in a similar way.
Sources: DPA, “”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
