Mick Schumacher has been without a cockpit in Formula 1 for more than a year, and in 2024 the German will again “only” be active as a substitute driver for Mercedes. But it shouldn’t stay that way for too long, believes not only the German, but also a former F1 colleague who has now campaigned for Schumacher.
After two years for the Formula 1 underdog Haas, it was over again for Mick Schumacher in the premier class of motorsport at the end of 2022. The son of F1 record world champion Michael Schumacher had more or less fallen out with the then team boss Günther Steiner; the performances in the weak Haas car were not enough to convince other racing teams of Schumacher.
The German was therefore only peripherally in the limelight as a substitute and simulator driver for Mercedes in 2023 and was unable to draw attention to himself due to a lack of appearances. In the meantime, Schumacher has (still) looked for a job in the WEC away from Formula 1, where he is active for Alpine’s endurance division.
But in Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, a current Formula 1 driver is now standing up for Schumacher, against whom the 24-year-old was already able to drive during his active F1 time.
Schumacher “deserves a place in Formula 1,” Ocon is quoted as saying by “motorsportweek.com” in a media round. Why? For Ocon it’s clear: “He’s already proven himself, I mean, he’s a Formula 3 and Formula 2 champion.”
Formula 1 driver Ocon: Schumacher has huge talent
In addition to his previous successes, the Frenchman also referred to Schumacher’s two years at Haas. “He was driving in a car in the back of the midfield. You just need time to prove yourself, to learn things,” added Ocon and repeated: “He definitely deserves a cockpit in Formula 1.”
The German is “one of the most talented drivers out there,” added the 27-year-old Alpine driver, who got into Formula 1 through the Mercedes funding program and has now landed at Alpine via Manor, Forcia India and Renault .