Mick Schumacher’s time as a Formula 1 driver has certainly been an eventful one, with the German’s F1 career having been halted for 2023 at least.
There is no doubt that the son of Michael Schumacher is an incredibly talented and fast racing driver, with his success in junior categories being proof of that.
The 23-year-old won the European F3 title in 2018 before then claiming the 2020 F2 World Championship, a campaign which was followed by a move to F1 with Haas.
Whilst 2021 was technically his rookie season, it’s difficult to classify it as one.
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The American side opted to sacrifice their 2021 campaign in order to fully focus on the new aerodynamic regulations which were introduced this year, which saw them effectively use their 2020 car in 2021.
To no surprise, Haas were awful, with Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin having been lucky to finish anywhere other than 19th and 20th.
2022 has been a very different season, though, with the team having given Schumacher and the returning Kevin Magnussen a car that could challenge for the points, at least on a handful of occasions.
Schumacher struggled early in the season, where he crashed incredibly heavily at Saudi Arabia and Monaco.
However, he bounced back with consecutive points finishes at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring, before performing well for the remainder of the season.
Seemingly not well enough in Guenther Steiner’s eyes for him to retain his seat, with Schumacher having been dropped following two seasons with the team.
Many have criticised Haas’ management of the talented German, with AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost having said on countless occasions that a driver needs three years to prove themselves.
Schumacher hasn’t been given this opportunity and believes that “nobody” is a “complete” F1 driver after just two seasons.
“Many people have already said it but I think it is worth saying again – nobody was fully a complete driver in Formula 1 after two years and there is a lot to learn still,” said Schumacher.
“I intend to learn those bits and pieces and I’m sure that once I put everything together, as I have shown in junior categories, I’m sure that I can be a top driver in Formula 1 as well.”
The Austrian Grand Prix was actually his last points finish of the season, with a lack of car development by the team and poor strategies at times having cost the Mercedes-bound driver.
Schumacher is confident that he had a good season, due to having seen “consistent improvement” throughout his sophomore campaign.
“Grading or putting a number to it is not really right, because I don’t think anybody will do that,” Schumacher added.
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“For me personally, I know the trend which was there is what matters. You can see that consistent improvement across the course of the season and I have achieved some of the things that I wanted to achieve.
“Obviously, I haven’t managed everything but I wasn’t sure that I was going to reach those because it is Formula 1.
“It is obviously very different to all of the junior categories that I have had before.”