Two weeks ago, Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career appeared to be in turmoil, having moved to sixth on the list for most races completed without a points finish.
Fast forward to today, and Schumacher isn’t only a consecutive race points finisher, but is now believed to be on the radar of Red Bull Racing and the Mercedes F1 Team.
After scoring his first points in F1 at the British Grand Prix, thanks to an eighth-place finish, the Haas F1 Team driver backed it up with an incredible sixth-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix.
It means that Schumacher has now scored 12-points from just the last two races, elevating him from last in the Drivers’ Championship, to 15th.
READ: Lewis Hamilton agrees with Max Verstappen as he tears into the FIA for Austrian GP ‘joke’
Haas has also had Kevin Magnussen finish in the points at the last two events, which has seen the American team move to seventh in the Constructors’ Standings.
Following on from the race at the Red Bull Ring, Magnussen was one of the first to congratulate the 23-year-old.
“Mick has made a big step in the last two races,” Magnussen said.
“I’m happy for him and the team.
“We are now seventh in the team world championship and we want to get even better, and for that we need two drivers who can finish in the points.”
To finish sixth, Schumacher had to overtake his Danish team-mate, something which Magnussen had no problem with.
“If he is faster, there is no reason to block him,” Magnussen said.
“I’m here to help the team, not to win the world championship. I’m not in that position.
“Hopefully I’ll get it one day, but I’m a team player and I’m happy with our double points. That’s why you didn’t see me block like a savage.”
Magnussen’s choice of words was drastically different prior to the race at the Silverstone International Circuit, where he said: “It’s difficult when you’re the only one who regularly makes it into the points.”
The son of Michael Schumacher demonstrated the racecraft which saw him claim the 2020 F2 World Championship, having at times been three-a-breast into the tight Turn Three.
The Haas driver’s uncle, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, was full of praise for his nephew, who is “doing perfectly now”.
“He’s strong in a duel,” the former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver said after Sunday’s Austrian GP.
“We’ve already seen that in Formula 2, and now in Formula 1 we see he also has to practice it a bit.
“Last year it wasn’t possible because of the car; now it is. He does it superbly, defending hard but fairly.
“Mistakes can always happen, but he’s doing it perfectly now,” the 47-year-old said.
Ferrari-backed Schumacher is currently without a contract for 2023, with team principal Guenther Steiner having become frustrated with the German prior to Silverstone.
With the talented young driver yet to sign a deal for next season, Red Bull and Mercedes have reportedly set the Haas driver firmly on their radars, in a bid to steal him from Ferrari.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, was another person who discussed Schumacher’s great performance in Austria, highlighting him as a “good young man”.
“Mick drove great, defended well and is always on the sporting side,” said Wolff. “I’m happy to see that. A good young man.”
It’s yet to be seen as to whether Haas will offer Schumacher a new deal, something which seems more likely now given his recent results.
Steiner has explained that no decision will be made until after the summer break, which will commence in two Grand Prix’s time.
Despite recent disagreements between the pair, Steiner is adamant that the relationship is strong between the two.
“The relationship between me and Mick is good. There is no problem,” Steiner insisted.