Haas team boss Günther Steiner has had enough. Before the Formula 1 race in Azerbaijan, he warned his two drivers: no more accidents.
At the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher split his car into two parts. In Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, the next Formula 1 street circuit is now on the program for Sunday (June 12th, 2022).
Schumacher, very professional, pushes the worries aside. The prospect of the next frenzy through a narrow city center doesn’t scare him. “Baku will feel big compared to Monaco, that’s for sure”said the Haas pilot.
But the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher is accompanied by growing criticism and doubts after a series of accidents. In the street canyons of Baku he can’t afford to make another mistake.
Another crash bad for Canada races
Haas team boss Steiner warned him and his colleague Kevin Magnussen to have a crash-free race. “We hope that we will not have any damage in Baku”Steiner said.
He focused his attention primarily on the following race in Canada, which is only a week later: “We only have a few days to set up there, so if you have damage to the car, it becomes even more difficult.”
Mick Schumacher, in particular, can understand this as a clear instruction. Because not only in Monaco, but also in Saudi Arabia, he completely destroyed his car. There were also accidents in Bahrain and Miami.
Crash consequence: High costs and a lot of work
The misadventures of the 23-year-old have already cost his team well over a million euros this year, according to specialist magazines. New chassis, new transmission parts, many hours of work – that hurts the clammy Haas racing team in particular.
In the worst case, there is less money left for the further technical development of the cars. “Mick has to learn that such mistakes shouldn’t happen, no question about it”wrote Ralf Schumacher in a column, Mick’s uncle and ex-racing driver.
Schumacher still without a point
Besides Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, Mick Schumacher is the only driver who is still without a point this year. It hurts all the more because his new teammate Kevin Magnussen has already gained 15 points.
“There is no hiding in Formula 1. Only results count. Mick knows that too.”said team boss Steiner to the specialist portal “motorsport.com”.
On probation
The 2021 apprenticeship year in the then hopelessly inferior car is definitely over for Schumacher, now he is driving on probation more than ever. “With our car we are in a good position for Baku”said Schumacher.
Above all, the long home straight at the Caspian Sea should suit the powerful Ferrari engine. It gets tricky in the narrow passages in the old town, which have often been the focus of accidents up to now.
Schumacher has to the Baku City circuit mixed memories. In the main race of Formula 2 he retired in 2019 after a spin. Last year he collided with his boisterous teammate Nikita Masepin just before the end of the race almost at full throttle.
Schumacher’s job at Haas in danger?
Schumacher would like nothing more than a problem-free weekend this time to silence the critics. Many experts have already suggested that further mistakes could cost Schumacher his job at Haas prematurely. “Basically, I think it’s impossible, and I don’t think it’s being considered either.”said Ralf Schumacher.
Support also from Vettel
The critical statements by team boss Steiner are “superfluous” been because they “just too much room for interpretation” let. “We have to see how we can continue from here”Steiner had said ambiguously.
Nephew Mick has always grown in his career with his tasks. “I’m not worried about that at all”, said Ralf Schumacher. Compatriot Sebastian Vettel sees it similarly. “I have no doubt that Mick can do more than he is showing at the moment”asserted the four-time world champion.