Günther Steiner's message for Mick Schumacher after final Haas race: 'You will always be one of us'

Günther Steiner’s message for Mick Schumacher after final Haas race: ‘You will always be one of us’. Günther Steiner's message for Mick .

The 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the last for several drivers: while some will change teams for the next season, other will not be on the grid for the 2023 Formula 1 championship. If we exclude Sebastian Vettel’s retirement from racing, there are three drivers that for now do not know their future in the world of motor racing competitions: Daniel Ricciardo, Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher.

The Ferrari junior, who finished the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 16th place at Yas Marina and was also involved in a crash with Nicholas Latifi in the final part of the race, in fact took part in his last Grand Prix behind the wheel of a Haas car, without finding a different option in view of the next Formula 1 campaign. The German driver is evaluating different roles, including the possibility of being a third driver elsewhere, but in 2023 he will certainly not be on the starting grid.

For the son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, an experience that lasted two seasons therefore ends. During these two seasons, Mick achieved his best result this year in Austria, when he reached the finish line in sixth position at the end of a great race. After the checkered flag at the Yas Marina circuit, team principal Günther Steiner gathered the team to greet his now ex-driver, with whom there were also tensions during the world championship: “I think I can say on behalf of all the team that we wish you the best. You will always be remembered for being a part of our team. Now we each go their own separate way, but in life you can always meet twice, if not three times. I want to thank you for what you have done for us and for giving us the opportunity to move forward. You have helped all these guys have the strength to continue especially after last year, which you know how difficult it was, I couldn’t have done it alone. We’ve had a tough time this year, going through a f**** rollercoaster like we always do here. You are a part of this team, and I hope you will want to keep it in your memory. In the end we are good people who work hard, and you will always be one of us. Thanks Mick.”

Regarding the Abu Dhabi race, Mick Schumacher nevertheless finished ahead of his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen, but both were far from the points zone. Still, the result does not compromise the US team’s eighth position in the constructors’ standings: “We did not have a good race pace” – the German driver admitted – “In qualifying, the pace on a flying lap was there, but we knew it would be difficult to maintain the position. We hoped for more, but in the end we kept eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, and that was the goal. I’m happy for the team, because now they have a completely different budget available and I’m sure they’ll be able to exploit it.” – the Ferrari junior concluded.