There is still a big question mark behind Mick Schumacher’s future in Formula 1. The 23-year-old faces competition at his current employer Haas from a German pilot of all people.
The options for Mick Schumacher in Formula 1 are becoming fewer and fewer. There are currently three free cockpits for 2023. At Williams, Alpine and the current Mick team: Haas.
No decision has been made there yet. Team boss Günther Steiner is not yet sure who he is going to bet on next year alongside Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen.
The decision depends on his “gut feeling”, the South Tyrolean said in an RTL interview. The odds are fifty-fifty. In the paddock before the GP in Singapore, he again emphasized on Thursday that one wanted to take one’s time and not make the “wrong decision”.
Recently, a name had made the rounds that was quite surprising. Formula 1 veteran Nico Hülkenberg is one of the candidates for the second Haas cockpit. This was reported, for example, by the American broadcaster “ESPN”.
Hulkenberg actually on the Haas list
According to information from RTL / ntv, Hulkenberg is actually on the list of Steiner and team owner Gene Haas.
“Hulk” has certainly made an impression on the two Haas decision-makers with his firefighting operations for Racing Point and Aston Martin in recent years. Not least because of the short-term assignments for the sick Sebastian Vettel at the beginning of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. His extensive racing experience, despite the now two-year break as a regular driver, is another plus. As can be heard, the pilot is believed to be able to deliver for Haas even at the age of 35 and as a young father. Physically he is still in top form.
Which also speaks for a liaison between Hülkenberg and Haas: According to RTL / ntv information, the veteran definitely wants to drive F1 in the coming year. The relations between Hülkenberg and Steiner as well as Gene Haas are considered good. As RTL / ntv found out, Haas is currently the only contact person for the German. There are currently no contacts with Williams.
Schumacher still has the reins of action in his hand
One thing is clear: both Haas and Williams will take their time with the decision, possibly until November. This allows the team leaders to monitor the candidates and analyze their performance. Because it is still open, for example, how things will continue with Daniel Ricciardo, who will no longer drive for McLaren in 2023.
But that also means: Schumacher still has the reins of action in his hand. His task is as simple as it is demanding: by continuing to collect points and doing good races. If he performs, he is the more obvious solution for Haas than Hulkenberg.
The next Grands Prix in Singapore and Japan in particular will be important benchmarks for Schumi jr. But Hülkenberg will also be on site as a replacement driver in Singapore and Austin (USA) and will certainly use the business trips for one or the other conversation with Steiner.