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Mick Schumacher joined Mercedes as a reserve driver for 2023 after losing his spot at Haas.
After two years of driving for Haas, the German was replaced by Nico Hulkenberg. The 2022 season saw him cause some financial headaches for Guenther Steiner. His rookie season in F1 was not an easy feat either, ending with zero points.
Ferrari also announced that Schumacher will no longer be affiliated with them. However, Toto Wolff sees potential in the son of a seven-time World Champion. That is why he was offered the position at Mercedes, to take time to “reassess” himself and hopefully find a seat for 2024.
Schumacher will be continuing from where his father left off at Mercedes. Michael Schumacher joined Mercedes upon his return from retirement in 2010. He spent three seasons with the German outlet, however, they were nothing compared to other championship-winning seasons with Ferrari.
Throughout those three seasons with Mercedes, Michael Schumacher earned one podium in the European GP. Toto Wolff doesn’t want to compare Mick Schumacher to his father, however, he believes that he does have the potential to drive in F1.
Toto Wolff’s comments
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff spoke to F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast before the announcement. He admitted that sometimes a year off is what a driver needs, comparing Schumacher’s situation to that of Daniel Ricciardo.
Signed. ✍️ @SchumacherMick meets the Boss. ? pic.twitter.com/7kuQXlJdMS
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 15, 2022
Wolff said: “I really like Mick and I like the family – how they have raised their kids with this unbelievably famous name – and I think he deserves a chance. He won [the Formula 2 title] and that is not easy. Things can go against you in your first years in Formula 1. He was under pressure to deliver and that doesn’t help, and Formula 1 is brutal.
“Maybe, in a way, having a year off as a third driver – similar to what Daniel [Ricciardo is doing with Red Bull] – can be good to reassess yourself and bring yourself in a better place and hopefully find a seat again.
“He always impressed me from his personality. The first time I met him, which was in his first year in [European] Formula 3 in Hockenheim, he’s just a good person. [He] won [European] F3, won F2 – that can’t come out of nowhere.
“Obviously everyone is different, and I wouldn’t do Mick nor Michael any justice by commenting here on their characters. Certainly Mick is an intelligent young man that can drive.”
Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
