The 2022 season was one of highs and lows for Mick Schumacher, as his impressive results such as a P6 finish in Austria were cancelled out by high-profile crashes in Monaco and Saudi Arabia.
It was this inconsistency that led Haas to opt for the more experienced driver in the form of Nico Hulkenberg for 2023, leaving Schumacher without a race seat.
The young German has now been picked up by Mercedes and will serve as the team’s third driver, completing simulator work as he attempts to earn his way back onto the grid.
Should either Lewis Hamilton or George Russell be unable to take part in a Grand Prix, Schumacher may even get a run out in the W14.
READ: Leaked pictures: Have Red Bull copied Mercedes with 2023 car design?
Russell has now offered his new teammate some advice ahead of his arrival in Brackley, suggesting that Schumacher should try to settle in at Mercedes as quickly as possible.
“If I was in Mick’s shoes, I’d work super hard in the simulator here at Brackley and try everything to integrate well into the team,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has explained that the pathway for Schumacher could look very similar to that of previous test driver Nyck de Vries, who earned himself a move elsewhere following an impressive debut last year in Monza.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, his time on track this year will be very limited, with there currently being no plans to put Schumacher in the W14 during either the Silver Arrows’ Silverstone shake-down or pre-season tests in Bahrain.
Schumacher will also be unable to take part in the young driver free practice sessions with the team towards the end of the season, as his two seasons on the grid with Haas make him ineligible for these sessions.
READ: Haas make bold claim about 2023 F1 car
Ralf Schumacher has boldly suggested that should Lewis Hamilton once again fail to beat George Russell in the championship this season, his nephew could replace the 38-year-old in the Mercedes driver lineup for 2024.
It seems likely that Hamilton will remain with Mercedes for the foreseeable future however, making Audi a much more likely destination for Schumacher when they enter the sport in 2026.
Signing a German driver would be a massive statement for sponsors of the German car manufacturer, making Schumacher a very appealing target for the team when they complete their takeover of Sauber.