Ferrari Driver Academy member Mick Schumacher is ready to start his second Formula 1 season with Haas and confirmed that this year he is targeting Q2 appearances on a regular basis and also scoring some points in 2022.
The Ferrari junior made his Formula 1 debut in 2021 and as expected it was a difficult campaign given the fact that Haas decided not to bring any updates on their car, instead focusing on the project for 2022 and preparing for the new regulations. That meant despite some very good performances from Mick Schumacher when he troubled the lower midfield zone, the German driver was never in a realistic position to score any points. Mick did however beat his fellow rookie team-mate Nikita Mazepin most of the times and used 2021 as a learning season.
But the Ferrari Driver Academy member now feels 2022 can be a much better championship, setting his sights on clearing the first stage of qualifying consistently having only done so twice last season.
“I think we would be happy if we could show up consistently in Q2 and then score points here and there,” he said in an interview with Sky Deutschland, quoted by Motorsport-Magazin.com – “That’s my personal goal, but also the goal we have as a team. Accordingly, we also have to step on the gas to achieve this. All teams are set to zero. Maybe it can give us a small lead because we started earlier. I was in contact with the team almost every day to see what this year’s car looks like and what gaps we still have, but I believe the positive things are really positive and we can therefore be quite happy. I know roughly how the car has developed in terms of numbers compared to last year, how the car will behave in the corners…hopefully it will behave. We don’t quite know yet. I think the car will become a bit stiffer to drive, jerky. We have bigger tyres but a smaller sidewall that will make the car even stiffer. Therefore, the driving style will certainly change quite a lot. Then you just have to get used to it again.” – he explained.
Mick Schumacher has experience of the 18-inch tyres which will be used in the next Formula 1 campaign, having raced with them in Formula 2. So while that is a benefit for Mick Schumacher, he warned the experiences of them between an Formula 2 and an Formula 1 car cannot be compared, especially given the fact that the new Formula 1 challengers have been designed to work with them while the F2 cars were not.
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“I know roughly what to expect. But I think it will feel different in Formula 1 because the car is completely new. It’s basically made for the 18-inch tyre whereas Formula 2 was made for 13 inches and then converted for 18 inches.” – he added.
Mick Schumacher may also have a chance to actually drive for Scuderia Ferrari this season, in case Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz are unable to take part in a Grand Prix weekend: “Of course it would be nice to sit in the Ferrari, but my main focus is, of course, on Haas. But if support is needed at Ferrari, of course I’m there. My goal is to be as far ahead as possible this year with Haas. What happens in the future remains to be seen.” – he continued.
But if Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher is to ultimately become a full-time Ferrari driver down the line, he knows a strong 2022 with Haas is absolutely necessary: “It also depends on what goes on with Haas this year. If I prove myself there, hopefully it will go in the right direction.” – Mick concluded.
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