Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has told Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher that he needs to “forget” about making a comeback to the grid, with the ex-F1 supremo informing the German to “wake up from a dream”.
Schumacher currently finds himself as Mercedes’ reserve driver after he was dropped by Haas at the end of the 2022 season, following a two-year spell with the Americans.
He was ultimately replaced by fellow German Nico Hulkenberg, who has started 2023 exceptionally.
For Schumacher, it’s been a quiet start to the season; however, he remains adamant on getting himself back onto the grid for next year.
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“He has to forget this dream, because sooner or later we all wake up from a dream,” Ecclestone told RTL.
“He has to accept that and start thinking about what the alternative is and try to pursue that.”
Incredibly, Ecclestone actually thinks the 24-year-old wasn’t given the right support to “lead him to success”, despite the fact he’s the son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.
“I think he needed someone who really wants to lead him to success and take care of him the whole time,” he said.
Of course, Schumacher does receive significant support from his family and his dad’s manager, Sabine Kehm.
Ecclestone doesn’t think it’s the right type of support for helping him improve in F1, though, with the ex-F1 supremo having previously stated how different the young German’s F1 career would be if his father was able to be in the paddock.
“They’re not the kind of people who can help him,” Ecclestone insisted. “They can help him in many things, but not for a career as a Formula 1 driver.”
Schumacher’s father hasn’t been seen in public since his skiing accident in December 2013, which left him with severe head injuries.
Much of Michael’s current life and condition remains a mystery, with updates on his health being rare.
The media has on the whole respected his and his family’s privacy; however, a German gossip magazine recently faced incredible criticism after publishing a fake interview with the driver.
The German media outlet published an interview supposedly done with the German; however, the piece was actually generated by artificial intelligence, similar to the likes of ChatGPT.
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Some have hit out at the magazine for their “criminal” piece, but Ecclestone doesn’t think that “word” can be used in this case, even though the story is “bad”.
“I don’t think you can use the word criminal,” said Ecclestone, “but it’s bad that they have to do that to sell a newspaper.
“It’s also very difficult for the family.”