Mick Schumacher joins Mercedes as reserve driver for the 2023 Formula 1 season after losing his Haas seat

[ad_1]

Mick Schumacher lost his Haas seat to Nico Hulkenberg, and will now be the reserve driver for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, a seat that was opened up after Nico de Vries joined AlphaTauri; Toto Wolff: “Mick is a talented young driver and we are delighted to have him join the team.”

Last update: 12/15/22 12:14 PM

The team has announced that Mick Schumacher has joined Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2023 season.

Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael, has become a free agent for 2023 after losing his Haas seat to Nico Hulkenberg, but will now be the understudy to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Daniel Ricciardo was linked with the position, but returned to Red Bull as third driver, paving the way for the 23-year-old to join Mercedes. Schumacher’s father spent his last three seasons as a Formula One driver with Mercedes.

Mercedes’ announcement came less than an hour after Ferrari confirmed they had parted ways with Schumacher, who was previously part of the drivers’ academy and impressed through the ranks in Formula 1.

They say Schumacher “will play an important role in the continued development of the W14”, next season’s car, while team boss Toto Wolff believes he will be “ready to get into the car at short notice if the need arises”.

Mick Schumacher signs his Mercedes contract alongside team principal Toto Wolff

Schumacher added: “I am delighted to be part of the Mercedes team and am committed to doing everything in my power to contribute to their performance in this very competitive and professional environment.”

“I see this as a new beginning, and I am excited and grateful to Toto and everyone involved for putting their faith in me.

Please use the Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player

Nico Hulkenberg says he is fresh and hungry as he prepares to return full-time to F1 for the first time since 2019 after replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas for the 2023 season.

Nico Hulkenberg says he is fresh and hungry as he prepares to return full-time to F1 for the first time since 2019 after replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas for the 2023 season.

“F1 is a wonderful world, and you never stop learning, so I’m looking forward to absorbing more knowledge and putting all my efforts on behalf of the Mercedes team.”

Wolff said: “Mick is a talented young driver and we are delighted to have him on board.

“He’s a hard worker, has a calm, methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver. These are all important qualities, and we’re excited for him to help us develop the W14.

“We also know that with two years of Formula 1 racing experience under his belt, he will be ready to get into the car at short notice to replace Lewis or George, should the need arise.”

Schumacher replaced Nick de Vries in the role, with the Dutchman taking a full-time seat at AlphaTauri.

Please use the Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player

Haas Mick Schumacher’s hydroplane crashes and crashes into the barrier after the end of first practice in Japanese F1

Haas Mick Schumacher’s hydroplane crashes and crashes into the barrier after the end of first practice in Japanese F1

Schumacher joined the Ferrari Academy in 2019, leading to hopes that he could follow in his father’s footsteps by driving for the Italian team. But he ended his association with the Italians.

After failing to score a point in a very slow Haas car in his debut campaign, Schumacher showed signs of improvement in 2022, finishing eighth and sixth in back-to-back races at Silverstone and the Austrian Grand Prix.

However, he was unable to add to that tally, and outscored teammate Kevin Magnussen by 13 points.

[ad_2]