Mick Schumacher’s contract as a Ferrari junior is about to expire and is said to not be renewed. It is quite possible that the air is now getting really thin for the 23-year-old.
What will Mick Schumacher do in 2023? Hardly a day goes by now that there aren’t new rumors about the future of German. The latest turnaround: his contract as a Ferrari junior expires after this season and an extension is not in sight, as reported by Autosport.
That should then also have an influence on his cockpit at Haas, because it is said that Antonio Giovinazzi is said to be the favorite for the place next to Kevin Magnussen. Something like that had already been indicated with the commitment of Italy as a Friday training driver in Monza and in the USA.
If you ask around in the paddock, Schumacher has a lot of support. “He deserves to be in Formula 1. Not just because of the name. He also has all the skills, »said series boss Stefano Domenicali on Sky about the 23-year-old. Sure: Domenicali sincerely hopes to be able to rely on the Schumacher name again in 2023.
It is not surprising that buddy Sebastian Vettel continues to support Schumacher. Schumacher is “someone who is constantly learning, and will continue to learn even if many have stopped learning.” That, the four-time world champion emphasized, was Schumacher’s “absolute strength”. Unfortunately, sometimes there is a lack of foresight, criticized Vettel.
Sky expert Timo Glock emphasized that everyone can see that Schumacher is taking steps in the right direction and is increasing his performance from race to race and has been constant since he scored the first points. “He has to implement that in the next races. But that’s always difficult when he has a weekend where a technical problem occurs. That doesn’t make it any easier for him, but he has to take it as it comes and try to put himself in the limelight when he has the opportunity,” said Glock.
At Ferrari, the whole thing had sounded a bit more reserved. “He has improved in the last few races,” said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto about his young driver. But: “It’s still too early to make a judgment.”
The fact is: Everyone is waiting for Oscar Piastri and the decision of the Arbitration Board of the World Automobile Association – does the 21-year-old have a valid contract with Alpine or not? Will the Australian dock at McLaren?
How things will continue on the driver market will depend to a not inconsiderable extent on the judgment of the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) and the consequences. Also for Schumacher, because the two racing teams would also be options for him in addition to Haas. Buddy Esteban Ocon had campaigned for Schumacher at Alpine.
In addition, both cockpits have not yet been confirmed at Alfa Romeo, Williams and AlphaTauri. If he is no longer a Ferrari junior, a move to AlphaTauri, Red Bull Racing’s young talent factory, would also be an option. Whether Williams is an option for Schumacher from a sporting point of view is another question.
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