Mick Schumacher will be a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023, the German Formula One team announced on Thursday, highlighting the 23-year-old’s “maturity” and “hard work”.
The son of the iconic Michael Schumacher was left without a place in F1 next season after Haas decided not to renew his relationship with the driver, replacing him with experienced Nico Hulkenberg.
“Mick will play an important role in the development of W14. [o monolugar para 2023]🇧🇷 He will be working regularly on the simulator at Brackley throughout the year,” Mercedes clarified, indicating that the German driver will also participate in some Grands Prix with the team and that he will represent them in marketing promotions.
The German team also highlighted Mick Schumacher’s “maturity” and “work ethic” throughout his career.
“I am very pleased to join the team as a reserve pilot for 2023 and am ready to contribute to its work. […]🇧🇷 I look at this as a new beginning and I am grateful to Toto [Wolff] and all those involved in trusting me. Formula 1 is such an exciting world and we never stop learning,” said the 23-year-old.
2020 F2 champion Schumacher ‘failed’ to make a name for himself in F1 in his two seasons at Haas, with a best finish of sixth at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.
Mick is following in the footsteps of his father, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who spent three seasons at Mercedes (2010-2012) in his second F1 “life” before retiring a second time.
Mercedes single-seat cars next season will be occupied, as this year, by Briton Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, and George Russell, who finished fourth in the World Drivers’ Championship.