06 September 2023 , 07:06
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Mick Schumacher has criticised the way he was treated at Haas with a future in Formula 1 looking increasingly unlikely.
The German, son of the legendary Michael Schumacher, has taken a year out to serve as Mercedes' reserve driver with the hope of returning to the grid for 2024. In his first two seasons in the sport he drove for Haas, who were among the worst packages in 2022 and 2023.
Schumacher has now had the chance to sample a different environment with the Silver Arrows, led by Toto Wolff, dominating the sport up until recently.
They also have two high class drivers in Lewis Hamilton and George Russell with Schumacher hammering Haas for their treatment of him having been able to see how a more successful team operates.
He told Sky Germany: "I can see now how it should be. My two years [with Haas] didn’t show me that. [You cannot] assume a driver will perform at his best if you don’t support him in the right way. People will never hand you flowers, you have to pick them yourself. I know that now.”
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Haas team principal Guenther Steiner made the decision to cut Schumacher, who scored 12 points across his two seasons, and replace him with Nico Hulkenberg. The 24-year-old had also been let go by the Ferrari driver academy.
He said at the time: "It was, at times, bumpy – but I steadily improved, learned a lot and now know for sure that I deserve a place in Formula 1. The subject is anything but closed for me. Setbacks only make your stronger. My fire burns for Formula 1 and I will fight hard to return to the starting grid."
The German was cut by Haas last season (Getty Images)The young German, a Formula 2 champion back in 2020, is hopeful he can land himself a drive elsewhere next season, but few doors are opening. Several teams have settled driver line-ups with no mass changes occurring. Williams would currently appear the only feasible option for Schumacher should they opt to cut Logan Sargeant, who hasn't scored a point, but the team have expressed faith with the driver.
Wolff admitted: "Unfortunately for Mick, it looks like all the doors are being closed in front of him, which is a shame because Mick deserves to be in Formula 1. But maybe the timing is just bad because there are no big changes in the field for 2024."
The Mercedes boss though is adamant the young driver would've been treated differently had his father be in and around the sport. He told Swiss newspaper Blick: "I'm looking out for the little one. I can only say that his parents did nothing wrong in bringing him up. And I claim that if Michael had accompanied his son during the two Haas years, Steiner would not have dared to treat Mick like that!”