Mercedes confirm Mick Schumacher as their reserve driver for 2023! “He deserves a chance” says Toto Wolff
The 2020 Formula 2 champion was removed from his F1 race seat after an unsatisfactory couple of years with Haas.
2020 F2 champion Mick Schumacher has been confirmed by Mercedes to be their reserve driver for the 2023 season following his departure from Haas. He contested two seasons with Haas, but was moved aside in favour of Nico Hulkenberg for 2023 – the team preferring the 181 Grands Prix’ worth of experience of Schumacher’s compatriot to help move them up the midfield. Moreover, Mick’s inconsistent 2022 season didn’t open up any doors for him as he struggled against experienced teammate Kevin Magnussen. Although, Mick’s personality compliments his talent which was clear when Toto Wolff stated that Mick “deserves a chance.”
There has never been doubt about Mick’s talents as he picked up the F2 World Champion trophy in 2020. Then in the 2021 season with Haas, he was consistently better than his teammate Nikita Mazepin but then again, Mazepin isn’t exactly the best metric. Mick’s lack of experience was abundantly clear in his 2022 season wherein he couldn’t cope up with a veteran Kevin Magnussen who came back to F1 after taking an year off! Couple that with the two major crashes Mick had in the season and the financial implications it had on a small team like Haas, it was pretty much clear Mick wouldn’t make it to 2023. But, Toto Wolff has always been a fan of Mick simply because of the kind of person he is. He showed glimpses of talent in his small battles with Hamilton and Verstappen as well.
Speaking of the confirmation that Schumacher would step up into Mercedes’ reserve role Wolff said: “Mick is a talented young driver and we’re delighted to have him join the team. He is a hard worker, has a calm and methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver. These are all important qualities, and we’re excited for him to help us develop the W14. We also know that with two years of experience racing in Formula 1 under his belt, he will be ready to step into the car at short notice to replace either Lewis [Hamilton] or George [Russell], should that need arise.”
With the team’s two 2022 reserve drivers, Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne having found berths at AlphaTauri (in a race seat) and Aston Martin (as reserve) for next year, Mercedes definitely needed a reliable reserve driver who also sees a possible future with the team and with Mick’s German nationality along with the Schumacher name, it is never going to be a bad day in terms of positive advertisement. Mick is now hungry for a world champion title and he knows it won’t be possible with a mid-field team. In fact, Ferrari’s 2022 performance must have left him questioning his future even if he was to see himself at Ferrari. All these factors combined, Mick is in a win-win as the reserve driver at Mercedes.
Schumacher added of his new role: “I am thrilled to be part of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team as their reserve driver for 2023, and I am committed to give it my all to contribute to their performance in this very competitive and professional environment. I take this as a new start, and I am just excited and grateful to Toto and everybody involved for putting their trust in me. F1 is such a fascinating world, and you never stop learning, so I look forward to absorbing more knowledge and putting in all my efforts for the benefit of the Mercedes team.”
