Mercedes to utilize Mick Schumacher in a new capacity on race weekends as the 2023 season heats up

In the European leg of the Formula 1 season, Mick Schumacher will see a major change to his reserve driver role at Mercedes.

Mercedes' reserve driver Mick Schumacher

Ever since his departure from Haas in 2022, Mick Schumacher has been taken under the wing of Toto Wolff, and has been granted the role of being Mercedes’ reserve driver, should one of their primary pair be unable to race. He has often been spotted alongside the Austrian in the garage, learning and growing every race weekend. However, Mercedes have some big changes in store.

This includes hinting at a big upgrade package soon, reshuffling their staff hierarchy, and now deviating from their normal schedule by assigning Schumacher a ‘new’ role in addition to being the reserve. According to Auto Motor und Sport, from the Emilia-Romagna GP onwards, he will be staying at Brackley for Friday. He will do major simulator work at the team’s primary development base, in an effort to provide the team with more data. From Saturday onwards, he’ll fly to the race and join the team in the garage.

From there on, his role as a normal reserve will continue Mercedes are clearly making an effort to maximize their development process. This change has been made as it’s easier to travel to European races from Brackley, though, he cannot do this for international races. After all, from now down to the Italian GP in early September, only three races are outside Mainland Europe. For the international races, it’s likely he will be at the circuit all weekend.

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Mick Schumacher’s current role at Mercedes could help him make a strong comeback to the grid

Mick Schumacher via Irish Mirror — Mick Schumacher

Despite being doomed to spend the 2023 season on the sidelines, the German driver undoubtedly aims to be back on the grid as a competitor as soon as possible. His time at Haas was difficult, to say the least. He was prone to crashes and heavily criticized, which is expected with having to live up to the Schumacher name. Ever since he was shown the exit door and replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, he has been mentored by Toto Wolff who has taken him on as a reserve driver at Mercedes.

Wolff has also assured previously that should one of George Russell or Lewis Hamilton be unable to race, Schumacher would be given the opportunity for sure. This comes in contrary to what the team has done in the past, like Sakhir 2020. They opted to give their prospect at the time Russell an opportunity to drive and gain experience from their superior car, rather than use their designated reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

Good that everyone got the ‚crossed arms‘ memo @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/McuArMtRc0
— Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) March 5, 2023

Mick Schumacher is undoubtedly gaining invaluable experience and knowledge from being involved in race weekends at a championship-winning team. His new position grants him more of a hands-on role in the team, where he can grow and his contributions are valued. While growing under the mentorship of Wolff, it can be ascertained that Schumacher will definitely find himself in a strong position in the future as a driver more mature than the one we witnessed at Haas.

He will gain confidence and invaluable advice, along with the role putting him in the frame of multiple teams at once, including McLaren and Williams. He has also been tipped to be a prospect for the Audi F1 team, upon their entry in 2026, given his German heritage. He looks set to have a bright future, and his future moves will be watched with great interest.