Jeddah (dpa) – Mick Schumacher crouched in his wrecked racing car, then it went in the ambulance to the track hospital. The Haas team gave the all-clear shortly after the 23-year-old had a horrific crash in the risky Formula 1 hunt for a starting place in Saudi Arabia.
“We heard that Mick is conscious and has left the car.” At more than 250 kilometers per hour, the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher crashed sideways into the barriers. The car was thrown across the track and then came to a halt, badly damaged.
Qualification has been suspended
Anxious moments followed. Qualifying on the ultra-fast street circuit on the Red Sea was immediately suspended. “We no longer had radio contact,” said Haas team boss Günther Steiner. Then came the relief. The Formula 1 doctors did not find any external injuries at Schumacher, a few minutes after the accident he was able to speak to mother Corinna.
TV pictures soon showed him sitting on a stretcher, laughing and gesturing violently while talking to bystanders. As a precaution, Schumacher was flown by helicopter to the King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah for further tests. This happens “to make sure there isn’t any injury to the body,” Steiner told Sky TV.
It initially remained unclear whether Schumacher was fit enough to start the second race of the season on Sunday (7 p.m. / Sky). “After such an impact, it will hurt,” said Steiner. The repairs to the young star’s car should also become a challenge in the short time available. Almost four months ago, Schumacher had an accident during the race at the premiere of the Grand Prix in Jeddah.
Perez starts from pole position
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In the qualification on Saturday he was rated 14th. Somewhat surprisingly, pole position was taken by Sergio Perez in the Red Bull for the first time in his career. The Mexican relegated opening winner Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz to second and third place. World champion Max Verstappen had to settle for fourth place in the second Red Bull.
Surprisingly, record world champion Lewis Hamilton failed in the first round of qualifying. The British Mercedes driver did not get past 16th place. “I’m so sorry, boys,” radioed the 37-year-old to the pits. The working day also ended early for Nico Hülkenberg. The representative of the corona-infected Sebastian Vettel took 18th place in the Aston Martin.
The drivers had previously discussed late into the night with the leaders of the racing series and the Saudi authorities whether the Grand Prix should take place. During the first practice session on Friday, Yemeni Houthi rebels used a rocket to attack an oil plant owned by Formula 1’s main sponsor Aramco near the race track.
The background to the attack is the war in Yemen that Saudi Arabia is waging against the Houthis. The measures for the safety of the race have been maximized, it said. Under this condition, the drivers consented to their further participation.