Woking (United Kingdom) – What an ups and downs for Mick Schumacher in Formula 1! Even before the start of the new season, there is good and bad news for the 23-year-old.
Mick Schumacher (23) last driving for Haas. This year he is a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren. © dpa / Hasan Bratic
We remember: the last season did not end well for the Haas pilot. Team boss Gunther Steiner (57) let Shumi Jr. back. fidget for a long time. It was only announced a few days before the last race that he was leaving the racing team.
Finding a new team was impossible, all the places had already been taken. But the Austrian Toto Wolff (51) jumped to the side of the German driver and took him as a substitute in the Mercedes team.
As a reserve driver, the chances of being able to race at least once this year are slim. Because it is usually only used when the regular driver is absent due to illness.
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For this reason, the news that he was also allowed to drive as a reserve driver for McLaren should have sparked joy. The racing team from Woking in Great Britain announced this at the beginning of February.
This doubled the likelihood of Schumacher being used after all. However, now hope is waning again.
Because McLaren surprisingly announced two new test drivers on Monday.
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Formula 1: McLaren expands reserve team – will Mick Schumacher be used?
Shumi Jr. was allowed to pilot: On 1 February, McLaren announced that Mick would be available as a reserve driver. © PR / McLaren F1
Aston Martin reserve drivers Filipe Drugovic (22) and Stoffel Vandoorne (30) could be loaned out by McLaren in the season starting next week, both teams have made clear.
Previously, Mick had only competed with Alex Palou (25), who joined the McLaren F1 team as IndyCar champion.
The only glimmer of hope for Shumi: Drugovich and Vandoorne are only available for the first 15 out of 23 races.
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Furthermore, McLaren should benefit from Schumacher’s experience.
Not only that neither the Brazilian nor the Belgian has ever driven in Formula 1. Schumacher is already sitting in the Mercedes cockpit intensely and preparing to play any weekend.
Since McLaren is Mercedes’ engine partner, Schumi must be more car-ready than his two new rivals.
Lando Norris (23, left) and Formula 1 newcomer Oscar Piastri (21) both start for McLaren this year. © Montage: AFP / Getty Images / Chris Graythen, dpa / PA Wire / Bradley Collyer
It would still be exciting if regular McLaren driver Lando Norris (23) or Oscar Piastri (21) would fail and then be able to step in.
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