Former System 1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks a change of his nephew Mick Schumacher to the Alpine staff is totally doable. With no German System 1 driver having a contract for the 2023 season as but, Ralf sees a shock signing up of Mick Schumacher to the French staff as a definite chance.
“Mick hasn’t signed a contract but both. Due to this fact, he can be a candidate. A candidate with pace, as you have got seen,” the TV pundit and uncle to Mick advised the Sky channel. Mick Schumacher’s future in System 1 is unsure, his contract with Haas expires after this season and there’s a cockpit emptiness at Alpine for subsequent yr because of Fernando Alonso switching to Aston Martin.
Initially, the French racing staff needed to advertise the Australian reserve driver Oscar Piastri to a daily race seat beside Ocon and had even introduced this publicly. Nonetheless, the 21-year-old turned down the contract publically on Twitter. Allegedly, he’s about to hitch the McLaren staff and can exchange his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo there.
In the meantime, Ralf Schumacher doesn’t see Ricciardo as a contender for the Alpine cockpit.
“Personally, I can’t think about him getting one other likelihood in System 1,” mentioned the 47-year-old. Moreover his nephew Mick, Schumacher sees Aston Martin substitute driver Nico Hülkenberg as an choice for Alpine. Clearly on no account a German-centric view level from Mick.
One other former F1 driver, Hans-Joachim Caught, is satisfied that Mick Schumacher is certified for a greater staff than Haas and may’t consider the 2023 System One season may really happen and not using a German driver. With Sebastian Vettel will retiring on the finish of the yr, and Mick Schumacher nonetheless and not using a contract for subsequent season, this can be a distinct chance.
“He has confirmed his capability this season. He belongs in a automotive that’s higher than the Haas,” Caught mentioned on Eurosport.
Additional, Caught says that “He exhibits impeccable performances, the folks in cost see that,”
“Furthermore, he brings a brilliant identify with him. A staff on the lookout for a younger driver can do no higher than to signal a Mick Schumacher.”
Ought to Schumacher not obtain a proposal from a greater staff, Haas can be the plain resolution for Caught:
“If Mick doesn’t discover one other cockpit, I wouldn’t perceive Haas making a fuss about it. As a result of they received’t get anybody higher.”
In any case, it’s enormously vital that Schumacher retains his cockpit in System 1 and doesn’t watch from the skin for a yr.
“He has to remain in it, present himself and make his mark, as he has already carried out this yr,” Caught mentioned. Not racing in System 1 for a yr can be dangerous.”
When requested about the truth that there won’t be a German in System 1 subsequent yr, the topic switched from Mick Schumacher to the outgoing Sebastian Vettel: “In my record of finest drivers, he is among the high six in historical past” mentioned Caught.
The German ex driver turned pundit believes that he’s quitting at precisely the proper time, as he not has a profitable automotive with the Aston Martin.
“In my leaderboard, he’s positively within the high six in historical past. In any case he has achieved, he’s positively in the identical league as Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart, Lewis Hamilton and in addition Max Verstappen,” mentioned Caught.
MORE F1: Hamilton indignant over feedback within the press, talks about extension
In the meantime, while Mick Schumacher is at the moment having fun with his time without work for the summer season break, his ideas will certainly turned to how he would possibly impress Alpine or Haas sufficient for a contract subsequent yr. However with the final weekend in August set to host the Belgian Grand Prix, the primary race after the summer season break, catastrophe will possible strike for the German.
Mick Schumacher will most likely begin the race from the again of the grid as he’s threatened with an enormous penalty with a brand new energy unit coming.
The Haas driver is already on the restrict for all elements aside from the exhaust system. If he modifies the elements once more, he’ll face a grid penalty. With team-mate Kevin Magnussen having had already modified his engine on the race in France and began from the very again. This step will most likely even be taken by Mick Schumacher.
The 23-year-old can even lastly obtain the massive Ferrari copy-cat aerodynamic replace in Spa, which Magnussen already obtained in Hungary. Haas will most likely additionally set up the improved Ferrari engine in Mick Schumacher’s automotive for an entire overhaul of the Germans’ automotive.
The strain will definitely be on the younger German if he’s to maintain the German flag flying in F1 subsequent yr.
MORE F1: Horner thought Wolff raging on TV hilarious