Ralf Schumacher: Mick a ‘great’ asset to Mercedes and McLaren

Ralf Schumacher believes his nephew, Mick, will be a great asset for Mercedes and McLaren, where he will serve in a reserve driver capacity.

Ralf Schumacher: Mick a ‘great’ asset to Mercedes and McLaren

Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher won’t have a full-time Formula 1 seat in 2023. You likely know this by now. But he isn’t putting his eggs in another basket. He’ll stay connected with the sport through his reserve driver role at Mercedes. So, if either one of Lewis Hamilton or George Russell are unavailable, he will be first in line to replace them. But like Nyck de Vries was made available to other teams, the same has happened with Schumacher – he will also serve as McLaren’s reserve driver.

Having to take a forced break from a Formula 1 seat is definitely not ideal for his career, but he’s probably in the best possible position right now. It’s good for Mercedes as well – the Schumacher still carries a lot of influence and fanfare. Mick’s father, Michael, was instrumental in the early years of the Silver Arrows’ return to F1. Toto Wolff previously said that the Schumacher name ‘belongs’ with Mercedes.

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The fact that he’ll serve in a dual reserve role means that he has double the amount of chances to replace a driver on any given race weekend when they are unavailable. His uncle, Ralf Schumacher, is aware of this, but also thinks that the young German is a great asset to any team. The former Williams man said to Sky Sports Germany: “It’s great for the teams to have someone like Mick. He knows his stuff, he knows the tracks. Mick comes straight out of the car.”

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He added: “For him [Mick], it’s also a good opportunity. With four chances (two each at Mercedes and McLaren), there’s more of a chance for him to maybe drive.” Considering McLaren, and particularly Mercedes, are teams that are (incredibly) likely to be higher up on the grid than Haas, Mick has a chance to prove himself in very good machinery.

Read More: “Gave me a heart attack” – Fans react as Mick Schumacher joins McLaren for the 2023 season

Toto Wolff expresses his confidence in Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher (L) signs his Mercedes contract with Toto Wolff (R) alongside him
Mick Schumacher (L) signs his Mercedes contract with Toto Wolff (R) alongside him

During the car launch event of Mercedes’ 2023 F1 challenger, the W14, Toto Wolff called Mick Schumacher a ‘great part of the team’. The Mercedes CEO has previously given interviews where he’s lauded, Schumacher. Earlier, he made it clear that Mercedes value Mick ‘very much’ (before he’d even arrived at the team as the reserve driver), and he also believes the young German can be a good racing driver in a permanent seat.

The Austrian team principal said: “I think Mick is such a great part of the team, because we have a driver who has actually been in the car the last couple of years, who knows the tires, knows the in-and-outs of last year’s regulations. Being able to have two eyes out there on the track looking at those cars and feeding it back in is super valuable apart from the sim work. I hope these guys [Hamilton and George Russell] don’t have fish poisoning but in any case he deserves to be in the car.”

Having the opportunity to replace four possible drivers is surely a great one for Schumacher. But, of course, it’s possible that he won’t be able to do so – it all depends on the other drivers’ availability. If everything goes according to plan for them, then Schumacher could just be restricted to show runs, simulator work and practice session running. Not ideal for the young German.

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