Mick Schumacher, currently serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes, has spoken about his rewarding learning experience alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and rising star George Russell during his period away from Formula 1 racing.
Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, has embarked on a carefully paced journey into the F1 realm.
After clinching the Formula 2 championship title in 2020, Schumacher advanced to the elite tier of motorsport with the Haas team.
In the 2022 season, Schumacher’s performance yielded only half the points of his teammate Kevin Magnussen, prompting Haas team principal Guenther Steiner’s dissatisfaction.
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Following Haas’ decision not to renew Schumacher’s contract, he found himself without an F1 seat for the 2023 season.
Reflecting on his time with Mercedes, Schumacher expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to learn from both Hamilton and Russell.
He described the experience as an “interesting period” in his career, allowing him to collaborate and gain insights from two exceptional drivers, a luxury not always afforded to reserve drivers.
He emphasised the valuable lessons he has imbibed from their approach to race weekends and the wealth of knowledge he has acquired to augment his skill set.
He remarked, “I didn’t think I would have learned and gained so much so early into my role.”
Schumacher also touched upon the unique perspective he has gained by being privy to the communication between drivers and engineers during track sessions, a privilege not often extended to drivers while they are on the circuit.
Expressing his astonishment, he said, “I was quite shocked at the season opener in Bahrain, I did not expect the sheer amount of exchange that happens.”
With his recent involvement in F1 as a reserve driver, Schumacher now has more time to refine his skills and remain prepared for future opportunities.
However, he acknowledged the challenge of not being able to participate in races firsthand.
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He detailed his primary focus on working in the simulator and credited his experience of racing under the new regulations for providing him with a solid understanding of how to handle the new generation of F1 cars.
Schumacher also conveyed his appreciation for the collaborative atmosphere with the Mercedes engineering team, highlighting how his opinion is valued and recognised.
He noted the emotional resonance of the fact that many team members who currently contribute to the team were also part of the organisation during his father’s racing era.