Ferrari Academy Driver member Mick Schumacher was interviewed by German automobile magazine ‘Auto Motor und Sport’:
Can you be quite demanding towards your engineers?
Mick: “Yes. But I don’t say that I don’t think their way is good, instead I make suggestions as to how something could perhaps be tried differently. It’s important to me that we all pull together to make a step forward.”
Normally engineers are sceptical when it comes from a young driver..
Mick :”That’s not the case with us. The trust is there, both from them to me and from me to you. We work very well together as a team and the engineers are extremely open about what I have to say. Even if I don’t always know all the background and it doesn’t always fit 100%. On the other hand, I try things out on the track immediately when the engineers make suggestions. I was told that other drivers didn’t do that in the past. They preferred to do it their own way. The work this season is not for nothing. If it doesn’t pay off this year, it will next year or the years after. That’s why it’s important for me not to let up, even if things look bad on the track.”
How important was the training period at Ferrari for your career?
Mick: “Obviously very important. Knowing that Ferrari is behind me gave me a lot of confidence. I know that they can help me in any situation.”
How is the morale in the team when you are last with zero points?
Mick: “The team is still motivated, e.g in Baku, when we were able to overtake Williams for P9. Everybody was happy. You could see how much that meant to them. I hope we will be ahead of them in the end. There are certainly still races where there could be chaos. In Baku, we were very close [to the points], even though we had problems ourselves. I am convinced that we can still get some points this season.”
Are you already involved in the development of the 2022 car?
Mick: “I am already working very closely with the engineers in the factory for the 2022 project. I am fully involved there.”
Have you made good friends among the F1 drivers?
Mick: “Unfortunately that’s not easy under Covid restrictions. There are a lot of rules you have to follow. But I get on quite well with Esteban, who also lives in Geneva. I have a good relationship with most of the drivers. In the end, though, Sebastian is the one I’m closest to. He is a great help to me, both on and off the track. It is just great that I can turn to someone who has so much experience and is also a great person.”
Your father was known for his championship parties. Are you the same when there is something to celebrate?
Mick: “I’m usually the one who either leaves the party early or stays all night. There is nothing in between. You’ll have to see for yourself when the time comes.”
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