Mick Schumacher deserves to be in a stronger team than Haas, says ex-Formula 1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck.
Schumacher is currently in his second season racing in F1, and has displayed some strong performances at recent grands prix.
However, they came after a difficult start to the 2022 campaign, as he was consistently out-paced by team-mate Kevin Magnussen, as well as being involved in a number of high-speed crashes.
Schumacher doesn’t yet have a contract in place for 2023, and there is speculation that he may not race for the Haas team next year.
However Stuck, who is a two-time F1 podium finisher, thinks that the German can find a better home than the US-owned squad.
“He has proven his skills this season,” Stuck told Eurosport. “He belongs in a car that’s better than the Haas.
“If it doesn’t work out with another team for any reason, he just has to do it with Haas for another year.
“But if Mick can’t find another cockpit, I wouldn’t understand Haas putting on a circus there. Because they won’t get any better [driver].”
Stuck has warned Schumacher not to take a year out with the aim of returning in 2024, stating it is crucial that he builds on the current momentum he has.
“He has to stick with it, show himself, and set an example, as he has already done this year. But not racing in Formula 1 for a year would be deadly,” he said.
“I would be very surprised if Schumacher didn’t find a job anywhere. He shows impeccable performances, the people in charge can see that.
“He also has a great name. A team looking for a young driver can do no better than sign a Mick Schumacher.”
I reckon if Schumacher keeps his development going he has a decent future in Formula One, but he is in no way anywhere close to the level his father achieved. If he learns his lessons, hones his racecraft, and is in the right car at the right time, it’s certainly possible he could win a title somewhere down the line, but that applies to at least half the drivers on the grid. As it stands right now, a second season at Haas is about right for him. I say second, because in 2021 the car was so far off the back of the pack, he and Mazepin were racing no-one but each other, so this year is the first time he has actually been competing against the other eighteen cars, which is why I felt the amount of fuss about his being several races into the season without a point to his name was severely misplaced. Nevertheless, talk of him getting a drive for a team further ahead than Haas is definitely premature, and, and I say this as a huge fan of his father, the notion that he deserves a seat purely because of his name is utter bollocks.