Ferrari Driver Academy member Mick Schumacher has confirmed that he has some options on the table for the next season, but added that he is not taking into consideration a possible move to the DTM series.
While the news was rumoured for some weeks, its is now official: the Ferrari junior will not continue with Haas for the 2023 Formula One championship and therefore will not be on the grid for next season, as the American side decided to sign experienced Nico Hulkenberg to partner Kevin Magnussen next year.
Mick Schumacher now has to figure out how to fill an empty calendar next season since there is no chance of getting a Formula 1 seat with another team. As a result, Mick may leave the Ferrari Driver Academy and join Mercedes with a reserve role, in the hope of returning on the grid in 2024.
Williams driver Alex Albon, who was Red Bull’s reserve driver last year, kept his racing skills sharp by racing a Red Bull-backed Ferrari in Germany’s DTM championship, but Mick Schumacher has confirmed he does not want to go in that direction.
“No, just no,” Mick Schumacher told media ahead of the final round of the 2022 Formula One championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when questioned if he’d be interested in racing in the category.
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Asked to comment on why he wouldn’t be interested in joining the series in which his illustrious father Michael made a handful of appearances in when he raced for HWA and Zakspeed three decades ago, Mick Schumacher explained:
“Because I don’t want to right now. I want to stay in this [F1] paddock. Whatever comes around, I’ll have to obviously have a look at it. But, right now, DTM is especially not the same as it was in the past anymore. Right now, it’s not an option.” – he added.
Regarding his plans for the following year, the Ferrari junior confirmed there are options on the table for him in Formula 1.
“There have been multiple talks. I’ve been in touch with different teams and it’s just now elaborating what options I have to then pick the right one for me.” – he added.
Mick Schumacher did not have the best Friday at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi in his final race weekend and revealed he didn’t feel the Haas VF-22 car was handling particularly well in any areas at the Yas Marina circuit.
“Not great. I think the car didn’t feel amazing out there. We struggled a bit in high speed but then also, in low speed, it wasn’t amazing. So not the best of both worlds for sure. So we have to see what we can do to improve it. I think we’ll have to drop a bit of aero, looking at the top speed of the other guys so hopefully we’ll be able to match them.” – Mick Schumacher concluded.
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