Since the Austrian Grand Prix on July 10, Mick Schumacher and Haas have not been able to win any World Championship points. Is Ferrari now separating from Mick Schumacher?
The American racing team of Gene Haas has three clear laps behind it: After the extremely strong performance at the Red Bull Ring (Mick Schumacher sixth, Kevin Magnussen eighth), nothing worked anymore. Sometimes it’s bad luck (Magnussen’s damaged front wing at the Hungaroring), sometimes it’s the characteristics of the Haas racing car that give the drivers a headache.
Haas team boss Günther Steiner confirmed in Spa-Francorchamps: “On high-speed tracks, we find it difficult to develop the car’s potential. We are more competitive on circuits where there is more downforce.”
Zandvoort is such a track, which is also a good omen for Mick Schumacher, who still has no Formula 1 contract for 2023.
The 2020 Formula 2 champion asserts: “I am sure that with better set-up we can make more of our opportunities. We firmly believe that the improvements introduced in Hungary for the first time will have an impact.”
“Courses where you drive with a lot of downforce suit us better, including driving on hard tyres. I hope we can finish in the top ten in qualifying and then score points.”
How does Mick remember Zandvoort? “Unfortunately, last year we didn’t have a car that was that fast. There were a little too many flares for my liking, the smell was a bit strong, and visibility wasn’t the best. But I already liked Zandvoort when I was still driving Formula 3. We should have more routes in the World Cup program that are so old and new.”
What will become of Mick Schumacher in Formula 1? The options for 2023 are limited: stay with Haas, slim chance with Williams, slimmer still with Alpine.
Against Schumacher in Williams speaks that the Canadian Nicholas Latifi can show 20 million dowry. His name speaks for Schumacher – of course, the racing team would have a lot more attention worldwide with Mick than with Latifi.
The same goes for Alpine, where manager Laurent Rossi still dreams of a France national team – with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. In order to cope with this, Alpine has to find a solution with Red Bull, because Gasly is under contract there until the end of 2023.
Sky GP expert Timo Glock says: “Mick Schumacher has to take what he gets for next year. Williams has shown many times that they are a team that can train young drivers well and then take the next step. So I think Williams would be a good move for Mick.”
Mick Schumacher dodges questions about his future at the official FIA press conference. This includes the rumor, uncommented by Ferrari, that he will no longer be part of the Italian driver academy in 2023. Mick says: “What is discussed with Ferrari remains between us, I do not speak about it in public.”
Running, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 44 Runden in 1:25:55,608 h
02. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +17.841sec
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +26,886
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +29,140
05. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, +73,256
06. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +74,936
07. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +75,640
08. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, +78,107
09. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +92,181
10. Alexander Albon (T), Williams, +101,900
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +103,078
12. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +104.739
13. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, +105,217
14. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, +106,252
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, +107,163
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Round
17. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, +1 lap
18. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +1 Runde
Out
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, Dreher
Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, collision damage
Championship status (after 14 of 22 races)
driver
01. Verstappen 284 points
02. Pérez 191
03. Leclerc 186
04. Sainz 171
05. Russell 170
06. Hamilton 146
07. Norris 76
08. Ocon 64
09. Alonso 51
10. Bottas 46
11. Magnussen 22
12. Vettel 20
13. Ricciardo 19
14. Gasly 18
15. Schumacher 12
16. Tsunoda 11
17. Zhou 5
18. Albon 4
19. Stroll 4
20. Latif 0
21. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 475 Punkte
02. Ferrari 357
03. Mercedes 316
04. Alpine 115
05. McLaren 95
06. Alfa Romeo 51
07. Haas 34
08. AlphaTauri 29
09. Aston Martin 24
10. Williams 4