Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto admitted that he is not sure if Mick Schumacher will find a seat on the grid for the 2023 Formula One season.
The Ferrari Driver Academy member joined Haas last season and made his Formula 1 debut: while Haas’ 2021 F1 challengers did not allow him to fight for points, the young German driver still impressed alongside Nikita Mazepin. However, this year the Russian driver was replaced by Kevin Magnussen and the Dane proved a much more difficult challenge for Mick Schumacher. In addition to this, his relationship with Haas team principal Gunther Steiner has not been ideal.
As a result, Mick Schumacher has been recently linked with the vacant seat at Alpine for 2023, but most paddock insiders believe that if Haas and Ferrari do not reach an agreement for Mick to extend his contract for next championship, he he may not find another ride in Formula 1 for now: “We all know that Formula 1 is always about performance,” Haas boss Gunther Steiner said in a recent interview with Sky Deutschland – “That’s why the decision takes time. We don’t want to decide something now that we would regret in two months.” – he added.
There have also been rumours regarding the possibility that Mick Schumacher might even leave the Ferrari’s driver academy, in case an opportunity appears for him to join a team that does not use Ferrari power units.
Gunther Steiner admitted that Ferrari, led by Mattia Binotto, has a big say regarding the Haas line-up, as the Maranello team wants to give one of their juniors the chance to drive in Formula 1. But of course the final decision is made by Haas. Antonio Giovinazzi, who is still part of the Ferrari family and has worked on the simulator this season, will drive the Haas car in free practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and later in FP1 for the United States Grand Prix, as Gunther Steiner confirmed this was a request from Ferrari.
For now, Mattia Binotto does not now what Haas’ intention for Mick Schumacher are regarding the 2023 F1 seat: “He has improved in the last few races, but it’s still too early to judge,” said the Italian manager during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Yet the Haas boss explained in Belgium that Ferrari will not be the decisive factor in determining Haas’ 2023 driver lineup: “We will sit down with Gunther and make a decision.” – Mattia Binotto confirmed.
Former Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel believes that Mick Schumacher has earned his right to race in Formula 1, and points the finger at Haas for not providing him with a good enough car: “The car isn’t as good as it was at the beginning of the year, so when you can’t be fifth or sixth it’s difficult to attract attention. But he’s doing a good job in the background and I hope he stays in there and gets a good car.” – the Aston Martin driver explained.
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Former Formula 1 driver Karl Wendlinger, meanwhile, questioned the way the Haas team principal has handled the relationship with Mick Schumacher and the matter of the team’s line-up for next season:
“I think it’s bad that the discussion at Haas is so open. If they are not satisfied with him, it should be discussed internally. If they have any interest in continuing to work with this young man, then they should work on it quietly, build him up, support him and then bring him to his performance. With such a public discussion, I’m not sure if there is a future at all.” – Karl Wendlinger explained.
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