In 2021 and 2022 Mick Schumacher was allowed to try his luck in Formula 1 as a regular driver for the US team Haas – then the racing team around team boss Günther Steiner announced that the contract with the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher would not be extended. A decision for which the South Tyrolean received a lot of opposition, especially from the German media. Schumacher is now active as a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren. With regard to the future of his ex-protégé, Steiner does not want to interfere in the work of his colleagues.
In the exclusive sport.de-Interview with the question of how he assesses Mick Schumacher’s chances of a regular cockpit in the coming season, Steiner explained: “I think he’s still in the best position to find a regular cockpit from all the drivers, from the rookies who are there are outside”.
However, the Italian left no doubt that the future of the German was no longer his responsibility: “He is in a relationship with Mercedes and logically Mercedes has many customer teams. It could be something. He is in the best position of all people I don’t know whether it works or not. I don’t interfere with what other team bosses decide. Everyone has to make these decisions for themselves and live with the responsibility.”
Steiner does not want to overinterpret the fact that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff Mick Schumacher recently praised several times for his good work in the simulator.
“If Toto says he’s doing a good job, that’s certainly good for Mercedes, but I wouldn’t say now because he’s doing good development work that he’s not a good racing driver or that he can’t be successful in racing either.”
“The word ‘earn’ is always a difficult one in Formula 1”
When asked specifically whether the 24-year-old deserved to get a permanent place in the grid again, Steiner didn’t really want to take a clear position.
“The word ‘earn’ is always a difficult word in Formula 1. Who earns what? You have to work hard for it, be a bit lucky, be in the right place, at the right moment,” said Steiner.
And further: “I think in a sport like this, where there are only 20 seats, nobody earns anything from the outside.” However, his statements are not only explicitly related to Mick Schumacher, but are to be understood “in general”.