Mick Schumacher to be Mercedes reserve driver in 2023
The former Haas driver will be a reserve driver at Mercedes next season, if he fails to secure a regular seat.
It’s official: Mick Schumacher will be the reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023. The German team and the driver announced it on their social media platforms.
« Mick will play an important role in the ongoing development of W14, affirms Mercedes in a press release. « He will regularly work in the Brackley simulator throughout the year as we recover from a challenging 2022 season. This work will be translated onto the track as Mick will also attend all the Grand Prix events in his new role, while also performing marketing tasks throughout the year.
Willkommen, Mick. 👋 Say hello to our 2023 Reserve Driver, @SchumacherMick. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/iQWLhIE7Pr
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 15, 2022
Michael Schumacher’s son thanked the team for their trust: “I am delighted to be a part of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team as a reserve driver for 2023, and I am committed to giving my best to contribute to their performance in this highly competitive and professional environment. I see this as a fresh start, and I am simply excited and grateful to Toto [Wolff] and all the people involved for putting their trust in me. Formula 1 is such a fascinating world, and you never stop learning, so I am eager to absorb more knowledge and put all my efforts at the service of the Mercedes team.”
On his part, Toto Wolff has no doubt whatsoever about Schumacher’s ability to step into the W14 whenever needed: Mick is a talented young driver and we are thrilled to have him in the team. He works hard, has a calm and methodical approach, and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver. These are all important qualities, and we are delighted that he is helping us develop the W14. We also know that with two years of Formula 1 experience under his belt, he will be ready to jump into the car at a moment’s notice to replace Lewis or George, if the need arises, commented the CEO and Team Principal of the team.
The former Haas driver had been pushed out at the end of the season, as the American team decided not to renew his contract to make way for Nico Hülkenberg, who is returning to F1.
Mick Schumacher cuts ties with Ferrari.
Mick Schumacher has also officially cut ties with the Ferrari Academy this Thursday, after four years of working together. In a statement released by Ferrari this morning, it was confirmed that the team and Schumacher had mutually decided not to extend their collaboration, after having worked together for four years. Mick has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Mick joined the Ferrari family through the young drivers program in 2019 and, as an FDA driver, participated in Formula 2 for two seasons with the Prema Racing team, as stated in the Ferrari press release.
He won three races and secured the 2020 championship title. The following year, he made his debut in Formula 1 with the Haas F1 Team. He raced for the team for two years, starting in 43 races and scoring 12 points, finishing sixth at this year’s Austrian Grand Prix and 8th at the British Grand Prix. Additionally, he served as a reserve driver for the Scuderia Ferrari for the 2022 Formula 1 season. Scuderia Ferrari thanks Mick for these four years and the many kilometers traveled together, and wishes him the best for the future, concludes the team.
The importance of the name Schumacher
This allows Mercedes to make its announcement, which had already been anticipated, with Toto Wolff having praised Mick Schumacher throughout the year, as the team was looking for replacements after the departure of reserve drivers Nyck de Vries (now a regular driver at AlphaTauri) and Stoffel Vandoorne. The Mercedes boss also highlighted the importance of his father’s family, a former Mercedes driver and F1 legend, for the manufacturer.
« Mick is someone who has always been close to our hearts, thanks to Michael and the entire Schumacher family,” Toto Wolff had specifically stated. « Ralf raced in DTM for us for a long time, and his son [David] currently races with Mercedes in GT. Mick is a smart and well-mannered young man. He has had a lot of success in junior championships […] We believe that we can look after him; he is someone who fits well with the team.
Mick Schumacher had declared in Abu Dhabi that he was flattered to hear about Toto Wolff’s interest, indicating that Mercedes is a fantastic brand and what they have achieved in Formula 1 is incredible. “It’s certain that I am considering my options, and Mercedes is part of it. My father switched from Ferrari to Mercedes at the time. I don’t see any valid reason not to do the same today.”
