Former F1 racer Hans-Joachim Caught believes Mick Schumacher has now confirmed himself to be at a stage deserving of a greater F1 race seat.
With solely 9 races left within the 2022 F1 season, time is operating out to substantiate a German driver on the grid for subsequent 12 months.
With Sebastian Vettel saying his retirement from Components 1 after 15 years within the sport, Mick Schumacher seems to be the one hope for German illustration on the grid.
The 2020 Components 2 Champion is presently and not using a confirmed seat for subsequent 12 months, with no clear indication from Haas that they intend on thrashing out particulars to maintain Schumacher alongside Kevin Magnussen for subsequent 12 months.
Schumacher has additionally defined that there was ‘stress’ between himself and staff boss Guenther Steiner earlier this 12 months, on account of Schumacher’s fixed errors and hefty crashes – at a time when the returning Magnussen was bringing house fixed factors finishes.
“Mick Schumacher has confirmed his abilities in 2022”
However Schumacher does seem to have turned his kind round within the center a part of the 12 months, incomes himself loads of platitudes. Amongst his supporters is compatriot Hans-Joachim Caught, who believes Schumacher is now at the next stage than the Haas staff.
“He has confirmed his abilities this season,” he stated, in an interview with Eurosport.
“He belongs in a automobile that’s higher than the Haas. If it doesn’t work out with one other staff for any motive, he simply has to do it with Haas for one more 12 months. But when Mick can’t discover one other cockpit, I wouldn’t perceive Haas placing on a circus there. As a result of they received’t get any higher.”
Caught reckons that the potential of Schumacher being compelled to sit down out a 12 months earlier than trying a comeback can be completely catastrophic for his profession, provided that it’s solely now that he’s increase some essential momentum.
“Earlier than he will get a cockpit in Components 1, he’s in good fingers with Haas,” Caught stated.
“He has to keep it up, present himself, and set an instance, as he has already finished this 12 months. However not racing in Components 1 for a 12 months can be lethal.”
“I’d be very shocked if Schumacher didn’t discover a job anyplace. He exhibits impeccable performances, the folks in cost can see that. He additionally has an excellent title. A staff searching for a younger driver can do no higher than signal a Mick Schumacher.”
The place would possibly Mick Schumacher find yourself?
Whereas there hasn’t been any concrete rumours concerning Haas’ 2023 driver line-up, one title that’s floating round is Felipe Drugovich. The Brazilian is presently racing in Components 2 and his title has been linked with Haas, Williams (as a alternative for Nicholas Latifi), or Aston Martin (as a possible reserve driver).
There are valuable few alternatives left for Mick Schumacher to seek out refuge away from Haas. Apart from the presently open Williams seat that Latifi is combating to carry onto, Alfa Romeo might be a possible opening – Schumacher’s present ties to the Ferrari Driver Academy might assist him there, however Zhou Guanyu is prone to be given a second 12 months alongside the already confirmed Valtteri Bottas.
An uncommon risk might be Alpine. Whereas the staff introduced Oscar Piastri as Fernando Alonso’s alternative for 2023, the Australian has categorically said he is not going to be becoming a member of the French marque subsequent season. For now, the seat stays unconfirmed, that means Schumacher’s supervisor Sabine Kehm will possible be pushing onerous to rekindle the hyperlinks to the staff Mick’s father, Michael, received his first two World Championships with in 1994 and 1995.
Nevertheless, the almost certainly state of affairs continues to be Haas – albeit with the staff holding a lot of the playing cards, on account of Schumacher’s late rise in kind.
Following on from his season low, a hefty crash in Monaco, Schumacher has raised his recreation and scored two convincing factors finishes at Silverstone and the Pink Bull Ring (which included a very lengthy battle with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton). Nevertheless, has it come too little, too late, for Schumacher’s profession?