Thursday, September 02, 2021
“I feel I have arrived”
Mick Schumacher’s dream is alive
In his first season in Formula 1, Mick Schumacher doesn’t (yet) get anything countable, but the Haas driver is still satisfied. And that with the points, that could still be something. In any case, there are ideas for the upcoming race weekend – and beyond.
Mick Schumacher is a true Formula 1 driver. This can not only be read on the start lists of the grand prizes around the world, it is also a feeling that has long since settled in the 21-year-old. Schumacher has been part of the main attraction in the racing circuit since this season. “I definitely feel at home and also very much at home in the team, actually quite early on. It took less than six months. One race and I felt at home,” the Haas driver reported to RTL / ntv shortly before the departure to Zandvoort in the Netherlands, where championship points are going to be on the agenda next weekend. Everything is “a lot of fun”, even if Schumacher and his team are still waiting for the first World Cup counter of the season.
A 12th place (in Hungary) is the best result that Schumacher has achieved in his Haas so far. There is no doubt about the driving quality of the newcomer, the German masters his subject as well as his teammate Nikita Mazepin. No, the car is simply too slow to have any serious chance of counting. At least under regular conditions and as long as the big teams don’t make mistakes. Now, in Zandvoort, the home track of World Cup runner-up Max Verstappen, but they could be a little closer together. So not Verstappen and Schumacher, but the established ones and the riders behind in the field, the German believes: “I think that Zandvoort’s setup suits us better than other tracks, such as Spa, because it is more similar to Budapest and other high-down forces -Tracks. ” The youngster speculates that Haas might be closer to the other teams. The area is not completely unknown to him: he drove in Zandvoort as early as 2018, albeit in a Formula 3 car. “It’s a big difference, of course. But I’m looking forward to it.”
“More risk in qualifying”
Schumacher has already discussed with his team boss Günther Steiner which accents they want to set on the new route. “We have already found a good compromise,” says Mick Schumacher. After this conversation with Steiner, he is not planning a completely different approach to the race, but he wants to set different priorities. In the sense of “more risk in qualifying”. Because last week in Spa was already over in the first knockout round. That should be different in Zandvoort. The track could help him with that.
Because it’s brand new. Formula 1 has not been seen in Zandvoort for a long time, it was a full 36 years ago. Niki Lauda was the reigning world champion, Lewis Hamilton was an infant and Max Verstappen’s father Jos was a go-kart talent. However, the modern Circuit Park Zandvoort no longer has much to do with the 1985 track.
The course, picturesquely situated in a dune landscape, had to be rebuilt and made faster for the comeback of the premier class – a result of the hype surrounding Max Verstappen. In the sections of the Hugenholtzbocht and Arie Luyendijkbocht there are now steep turns with 19 and 18 degrees respectively – unique in the current Formula 1 calendar. The pilots can stay on the accelerator longer, this should increase the probability of overtaking maneuvers at the end of the following straight.
Speaking of overtaking maneuvers: Numerous fans of Scuderia Ferrari are already looking forward to it, for many it is a dream to finally see a Schumacher sitting in the Ferrari again. Mick’s father Michael had five world championship titles in red and made himself the record world champion. Mick Schumacher would of course be ready to succeed the legendary father immediately – but there is no shortcut to the Ferrari cockpit for a Schumacher either. “I think it’s a great honor for every driver to drive a Ferrari. Of course for me too. If the time comes, that would be cool.” After all, his father was so successful with Ferrari. But Mick is realistic that there is still a long way to go: “First we take one step at a time.”
“There is nothing to announce yet”
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto had already given the direction before the rain chaos at Spa: “Before we decide when he is ready for Ferrari, he has to end this year without pressure, we don’t have to put any pressure on him, that would be wrong, he should learn as I said, “said Binotto in an interview with RTL / ntv. If Schumacher develops positively, a change to Ferrari is already possible in one and a half years. “Could be, I think that should be his challenge, no doubt. I think that he has a clear goal and that that is part of it,” said Binotto of Schumacher, who is part of the Ferrari junior academy.
How things will continue for Schumacher after the season and beyond has not yet been officially clarified. “There is nothing to announce yet, but of course we are still in conversation and let’s see when the time comes,” said Schumacher himself and announced at least once with a view to his immediate future at Haas: “We are in the first year and have another one ahead of us. ” Schumacher is closely involved in the development of the new racing car for the 2022 season; it is “fun,” he says. “You will see how it feels on the track. We are only allowed to drive the cars in February or March. Before that we only see the data.”
Binotto had already announced another engagement with Haas: “In his second year, Haas will probably be great for him, because then he will have the opportunity to show how good he is in F1. We know that he is a good driver is “, said the Ferrari team boss:” So far he’s been doing well and we are very happy. ” Ferrari happy, Schumacher happy – the dream is alive.
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