Toto Wolff says Mick Schumacher’s new role as reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 team could help him return to the grid in 2024.
23-year-old Mick Schumacher raced for the Haas F1 team for two years, but the team opted to sign fellow German Nico Hulkenberg as driver for 2023. Schumacher would leave the team at the end of the season.
On Thursday, Mercedes announced Mick Schumacher as reserve driver. Toto Wolff says the move is an opportunity for the 2020 F2 champion to “re-evaluate” himself.
“I really like Mick and love his family. How they’ve raised their kids with such an incredibly famous name – and I think he deserves a chance.”
“He won the F2 title, but it’s not easy. In the first years in F1 things can go wrong. In a way, like Daniel Ricciardo does at Red Bull. , a year off as third driver could be good to re-evaluate you itself, take you to a better place and hopefully find your place again.”
Toto Wolff insists Mick Schumacher has the talent to succeed in F1.
“He always impressed me with his personality. I first met him in his first year in European F3 at Hockenheim and he was just a good guy. He won European F3, won F2. He didn’t come out of nowhere ,” Wolff said.
By joining Mercedes, Mick Schumacher will follow in the footsteps of his father Michael Schumacher, who retired after driving for the team for three years between 2010 and 2012.
Toto Wolff, who met Michael Schumacher when he joined Mercedes as a shareholder in 2013, says he doesn’t want to compare father and son.
“Obviously everyone is different and I’m not trying to justify Mick or Michael by commenting on their characters here.”
“Mick is definitely a smart young man who can drive.”
Category: F1 / mercedes / Mick Schumacher
