Haas’ Mick Schumacher has affirmed that his contractual situation with the team is not proving a hindrance on his or their performance.
The German signed with Haas last season along with fellow rookie, Nikita Mazepin, as they replaced the outgoing Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean.
He comfortably out-performed his Russian team-mate in 2021, and for all intents and purposes, he was set to partner him again this year.
Due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine though, Mazepin was dismissed when his Uralkali funding was cut, so Magnussen returned.
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The Dane has out-qualified Schumacher on 13 occasions in 2023, and has been unlucky not to score points more than five times, with harsh black and orange flags affecting him in Canada, Hungary and Singapore.
He leads the 23-year-old in the Drivers’ Standings after Schumacher endured a tough start to 2022, but he was also the victim of misfortune in Montreal, when a reliability failure snatched points from his grasp.
He bounced back from that with two consecutive top 10 finishes in Silverstone and Spielberg, and he has been right on the pace of his team-mate since then.
Neither Haas driver has been in the points since they ended sixth and eighth, respectively, in Austria, and no new contract has materialised for Schumacher either.
His performances of late would seem to merit an extension, but Haas are continuing to weigh up their options, with Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg still on the radar.
Schumacher will reveal any news as and when he has it.
“The status is that we will of course announce it if there is something to announce,” he said.
Pierre Gasly is expected to make the switch from AlphaTauri to Alpine next year, which would put Schumacher out of contention for a drive with the French side.
Nyck de Vries is then set to take the remaining seat at the Red Bull junior outfit alongside Yuki Tsunoda, leaving Williams as the only alternative option for Schumacher if Haas do not keep him on.
“There is nothing new there either,” insisted the 2020 Formula 2 champion.
Schumacher reiterated that the uncertainty around his future is not affecting the focus of the American side.
“No, that doesn’t distract us,” he added.
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“I think the team knows what I can do and where we want to go. We have all the data, so the facts are on the table.
“Pressure was always part of my life and my sporting career. I like to take that pressure and turn it into extra motivation and drive.”
Haas have dropped down to eighth in the Constructors’ Standings after Aston Martin’s impressive recent run of form.