‘Needs to return by 2024, if not, that’s likely the end’ Nico Rosberg opines on Mick Schumacher’s future; thinks he lacked consistency in 2022
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Mick Schumacher
Haas took their decision on Mick Schumacher’s future rather late. As a consequence, not only was he out of a seat, he could not even go for any potential seats that may have been available to him (like at Williams, even if they had earlier announced their intention to promote Logan Sargeant). But even if he they had released him early, there’s no surety that he would have a seat at another team.
So, the 2020 F2 champion will sit out Formula 1 in 2023, but he will still attend all of the race weekends this year: This time as a reserve driver for Mercedes. His father drove for the team between 2010 and 2012, where he had partnered Nico Rosberg (who actually outscored him in all seasons). The latter opined about his former teammate’s son’s current situation to Sport1’s AvD Motor & Sport magazine.
On some weekends, the Haas just came alive (like in Austria) but a lot of the time, the car didn’t perform particularly well: “It was great to have Mick Schumacher on the grid and interesting to follow his performances in the premier class. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult for him because he had the worst car in the field for long stretches. It’s difficult to set highlights there.” said Rosberg, as per PlanetF1.
Regardless of that, Rosberg feels that there was a lack of consistency in Schumacher Jr.’s performances: “Nevertheless, you have to compare him with Kevin Magnussen. There was a lack of consistency, and Magnussen was always there in those moments when the car gave something away. Mick lacked these peaks. Unfortunately, there will now be a break in his GP career for the time being.”
Also Read: Mick Schumacher parts ways with Ferrari; to be Mercedes’ reserve driver for 2023
Rosberg: Mick Schumacher needs to return by 2024, if not, it’s likely over for him
While returning to F1 isn’t impossible (something that Fernando Alonso, Kevin Magnussen and Mick’s father Michael himself proved), it is certainly tough to pull off a return – especially when you do not exit it of your own accord. While his father had opted to retire, Schumacher won’t have a seat in 2023 (at least) because Haas were not convinced enough by him, and they thought that Nico Hulkenberg is the better option for them.
Nico Rosberg thinks the Mercedes reserve driver role is a good option for Schumacher, but also believes his F1 dream might be done if he doesn’t return to the grid by 2024: “Reserve driver at Mercedes, that’s a good option to stay in F1 and keep the chances of coming back somewhere in 2024. But Schumacher would also need a good sponsor to support him financially in his comeback to the grid. If nothing comes of it in 2024, then that would probably be the end with Formula 1.”
Hong Kong-based billionaire Calvin Lo, who is interested in entering a team in F1, thinks Schumacher Jr. (the son of his favorite driver) is an asset for any team. If not by Lo or another team right now, he could possibly make a return with Audi, who want a German driver, in 2026, but there’s no concrete news of their interest in him. If not in F1, Rosberg also thinks Schumacher could ‘have fun’ in DTM, Formula E or IndyCar.
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Aniket Tripathi
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