Jock Clear gives verdict on Mick Schumacher development as a Formula 1 driver

In a recent interview for German weekly sports magazine Sport Bild, English senior performance engineer Jock Clear, who is currently the Driver Coach for Charles Leclerc, but has also worked with Mick Schumacher, shares his thoughts on Mick’s development as a Formula 1 driver:

Who is the best driver that you have worked with?
Jock Clear: “Michael [Schumacher] was exceptionally good at working with the team. He understood how to motivate people. Michael knew how to work with people, how to win people over and unite them. That’s how you win and he understood that in its entirety. In every aspect of what he did, he took control of the situation. And then of course there is Lewis. Lewis was less of a natural in that regard. He was a natural [talent] when it came to controlling the car, perhaps maybe better. He didn’t understand team dynamics so much by nature, but he is a very quick learner. That’s exactly what we see in Charles too.”

You said that Michael worked particularly well with the team. You get the impression that Mick wants to do the same.
Jock Clear: “Absolutely. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It’s no surprise at all that Mick has these qualities too. Mick’s dynamic in the team [Haas] is very positive. And the methodology he works with is almost even better than Michael’s, because he is more calm by nature. It’s fascinating for me and many at Ferrari to work with Michael and now with Mick and see their similarities, but also the differences. At the end of the day, everyone is different. There is not just one way to become a champion.”

Can Mick Schumacher become a Formula 1 world champion?
Jock Clear: “As far as Mick is concerned, it’s still too early to say whether he has all the qualities to become world champion. But so far, we haven’t discovered anything that he lacks. There is still a long way to go, but he is definitely going in the right direction. We hope he continues to improve. He’s doing everything we ask of him, and he’s getting great results. We can’t ask for more than that. But only time will tell if he can deliver under the pressure when he is at the front and when he has the chance of fighting for pole position. It’s a very different scenario from now, where he’s fighting his teammate in a non-competitive car.”