Since Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 exit, Haas team boss Günther Steiner has had a small private feud with Mick’s uncle Ralf Schumacher and the German media. Most recently, however, the South Tyrolean spoke in a much friendlier tone.
In an interview with “Sport1”, the 58-year-old once again defended the decision not to extend the contract with Mick Schumacher: “Mick was a newcomer to us. He learned Formula 1 from us. That’s why you couldn’t do it at all from him expect the input that Nico Hülkenberg is now giving. Experience takes time and Mick didn’t have that. As a team, we wanted to go a different route: the route with two experienced drivers. That’s why we decided in favor of Nico and against Mick.”
That’s why he couldn’t understand the negative media response from Germany. Even if he knew from the start what the name Schumacher entailed: “He can be a curse and a blessing at the same time. One thing is certain: I didn’t want to destroy his career. We didn’t have anything against him, we just decided for the team. “
Steiner gives tips: “Maybe it would be better …”
Although Steiner still stands behind his decision, he would still do a few things differently in communication today. Afterwards you are always smarter, he summarizes.
Schumacher is currently under contract with Mercedes as a reserve driver and is hoping for a Formula 1 comeback. However, this turns out to be relatively difficult. Really many places are not free for the coming season. It is therefore quite possible that Schumacher will not have a permanent place on the grid in 2024 either.
Steiner has another tip ready for journalists to change that. “Maybe it would be better to ask Mick and his current boss Toto Wolff about his future and not always talk about the past.”
Schumacher’s Haas-Aus was more than half a year ago and still it would still be about that in Germany.