The seat game in Formula 1 got the better of the young Mick Schumacher, who was cut out after just two seasons in the top category. In 2023 the German was unable to get a seat, despite the many movements that took place especially in the "Silly Season". Vettel's farewell had started the ball rolling, triggering a chain effect, like dominoes. The pieces gradually started to fall, first with Alonso, then with Piastri. It was all about Aston Martin and Alpine. It took a long time to get to know the second driver of the French team, but in that period of time other teams also started to move because everything was played out on the 20 drivers that made up the grid, and on the Academies. And Mick was also involved in this dance, because he was courted by a particular team. A team that however chose another alternative.
A disappointing debut
Mick Schumacher's have been two disappointing seasons, in Haas, a team that is not sailing in good waters or even gold. Mick spent his first season alongside another rookie, Nikita Mazepin, who brought the great Russian sponsor Uralkali with him. The second season, 2022, Mick spends alongside Kevin Magnussen, a driver with more experience, who arrived in the race immediately after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the subsequent dismissal of Mazepin. But Mick's results are more inconsistent. The car is what it is, and he struggles to get it to the points on the rare occasions when his teammate manages to do so. However, what weighs most is the amount of damage that the German causes to the team. This series of accidents costs him his place in the following season, 2023. He will hardly return to F1 if he loses his seat.
Mercedes gives him confidence
Mick experienced it firsthand, ending up separating from Ferrari on a path that follows in his father's footsteps, in Mercedes in the last phase of his career. Mercedes took Mick under its wing as a reserve driver, also allowing him to return to the track – for the first time since Abu Dhabi 2022 – at Barcelona, a few days ago for the Pirelli tests. A useful test for both Mercedes and Mick because it also allowed them to compare the W14, on the simulator and on the track.
Mick's work was appreciated by both the team and the drivers, Hamilton e Russell, who defined it as a valuable resource. There W14 is still a work in progress, and finding the key to making it work over the course of the weekend – and a similar correlation between simulation and track – could make the difference between a top 5 and a top 3. Precisely in Barcelona the team achieved a double very important podium.
Although Mick enjoys the trust of Mercedes, finding him a seat for next year is proving difficult. No seat movements are expected this year, and the situation could continue, forcing Mick to remain behind the scenes. But his path could have taken a different turn already last season. In fact, there was a team that was particularly interested in him.
AlphaTauri was interested
Without Gasly, who went to Alpine, AlphaTauri found itself with an empty seat and little time to find a replacement. Franz Tost's first option was Mick Schumacher - at the time still linked to Ferrari - who was liked by the team principal of the Faenza team but not by Red Bull who opted for De Vries, discarding Mick.
"For us the Schumacher question arose after Pierre's departure, because for me it was clear that our driver pairing would be made up of Gasly and Tsunoda. Then, suddenly, Pierre was sold to Alpine and that left us with a vacancy. Until Monza it was absolutely unclear who our driver would be. And I logically thought of Schumacher“, reports Tost a Formula 1.
"Mick is much better than you might think from the outside. However, his candidacy was rejected. Now we are racing with Nyck De Vries and there is really nothing left to discuss".
Source statements: FormulaPassion
