Motorsport engineer and Haas team principal Guenther Steiner feels that Ferrari Driver Academy member Mick Schumacher would have no difficulties in stepping up at the Maranello team in case his responsabilities as reserve driver duties require him to do so, and believes Michael’s son has the abilities and mental straight to put in a great performance similar to that of George Russell when the British driver was called by Mercedes back in 2020 to replace Lewis Hamilton for one race.
At the end of last year, Mick Schumacher was officially confirmed as one of two reserve drivers for Scuderia Ferrari during the 2022 Formula 1 campaign, a task which he will share with Antonio Giovinazzi, while also racing for Haas in his second Formula 1 season. In case Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz would not be able to take part in a race this season, Mick Schumacher would have the best chance of replacing them, with Pietro Fittipaldi in line to get Mick’s Haas seat on that occasion.
Given the fact that Mick Schumacher has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy for a few years now, Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner believes this represented a great chance for the young German driver to give something back to the Maranello team.
In a recent interview for RacingNews365.com, Guenther Steiner explained: “When Mattia [Binotto, Team Principal at Ferrari] asked me if that is possible, I said, ‘Yeah, sure. It’s possible. In the end, he is an FDA driver, so why would that not be possible? I think it’s a good thing for Mick, because he was supported [for a] long time by Ferrari. Now Ferrari needs something back, and obviously Ferrari helps us so, in the end, it was just like we did it as partners: ‘Yeah, that will work’. We have got Pietro. Pietro was happy, because it’s another opportunity for him, if Mick has to be the reserve driver for somebody else! So I think, in the end, I didn’t have an issue.” – he added.
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Guenther Steiner is aware that Mick Schumacher’s task could be very important for his Formula 1 future and could bring him closer to a possible full-time seat with the Italian side:
“I think, if he makes it to Ferrari – which I don’t know, because I cannot decide that one – it’s already a good way into it,” he explained – “Because he has to do some things already how they want them to do, for sure. They will make a seat for him, they will make all this, and he gets to learn [about] the people there, if one day he will be driving for them. So, I think there [are] no negatives for anybody. I think that it’s almost only positive for everybody.” – he continued.
In case Mick Schumacher would be required to replace one of Ferrari’s main drivers, Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz, during the next season, Guenther Steiner feels that Mick would be ready for the challenge and there is a good chance he could emulate George Russell’s amazing pace in Bahrain, when the British driver replaced Lewis Hamilton and was on track to win the race before a pit stop issue sent him in the midfield zone:
“I would say so. This guy, now he has done one year in a Haas. He finds his way around pretty well. He knows the people at Ferrari. How good of a job he does when he’s in a Ferrari? I don’t know. But look at when George Russell jumped into the Mercedes [in his second year in F1]. It’s the same thing, and George did a fantastic job. But I think Mick can do something similar if he’s given the opportunity.” – the Haas boss concluded.
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