With Mick Schumacher, the knot in Formula 1 seems to have burst: In Spielberg, the 23-year-old was voted driver of the day, and the Haas driver collected his first twelve points overall. In an interview with the sports show, Schumacher sees his path confirmed.
Sportschau: Mick Schumacher, you scored your first points in Formula 1 and were voted driver of the day after the race in Spielberg/Austria. Is it correct to say that you are now establishing yourself in F1?
Mike Schumacher: I guess so. I feel good, feel settled and now I’m hoping for a long career.
What has changed for you? Also from the junior series Formula 3 and Formula 2 to Formula 1?
the fighting. Here the 20 best drivers in the world fight against each other. I didn’t have that experience last year. This year, on the other hand, more often. I’ve been involved in several duels and that’s a lot of fun. Dealing with all the tools on the steering wheel is typical for Formula 1, so you have to constantly change them when you start an overtaking manoeuvre.
More hustle and bustle than in Formula 2 and Formula 3
How to position yourself, how to feel comfortable. You have to understand all the trappings of how to deal with media. And the travel. We travel a lot more than in the F3 or F2, so you have less free time. But I like this sport very much and would like to stay in the car longer.
Are you a better racer than last year?
I find that every year I become a better racer. Because I’m just gaining more experience. Mistakes are part of it and I’ve made mistakes too. But basically I’m a better racer.
The duels with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have shown that the driving skills are there. Wasn’t that recognized enough or given too little attention beforehand?
“I know how good I am and what I can do”
I know how good I am and what I can do, so I don’t care what other people think or say. I know that I have worked my way. Doubters will always doubt, so if you can show them that they aren’t, it’s all the nicer.
After one of the last successful races, you radioed a certain saying to your team on the slow-down lap. Does he go with the doubters?
“Believe in yourself!”
That was at Silverstone, to my engineer. Prove them wrong and believe in yourself (Show them they’re wrong and believe in yourself, ed.). It was actually about the fact that we have such small bracelets. With motivational quotes on it. I just felt like I wanted to wear that and also perfect it.
You were voted driver of the day in Spielberg. And said that actually it should have happened one race before. Why?
Driver of the day: “It’s great to be recognized like that!”
I had spoken to the team about it and thought it would have been cool if we had had that at Silverstone. Recognition like this is great when something catches the eye and people like it.
What was different?
Well, at Silverstone we started from P19. And had a hard one fight against Max. It was just a much tougher race. In Austria there was always this feeling that things were going smoothly. There were simply no problems, Silverstone was a more difficult race.
Where should the path go this year?
Points would always be nice. And if it worked out to get further up in the Constructors’ Championship and in the Drivers’ Championship. I enjoyed the races. And that’s the most important thing, then points come by themselves. In the end you have to go your own way.