Ralf Schumacher says his nephew Mick Schumacher’s agreement to be Mercedes’ reserve driver for the 2023 Formula 1 season is a “win-win” for both sides.
Schumacher was forced to look elsewhere on the grid at the end of the 2022 campaign after he was dropped by Haas after two seasons.
Mercedes, who has history with the Schumacher family, has brought the 22-year-old under its wing for the new campaign.
Schumacher will be present at all races in 2023 to carry out reserve driver duties, while he will also help the Brackley-based squad develop its W14 car.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Ralf Schumacher, who has over 180 grand prix starts to his name, said: “I think it’s a win-win situation for both sides.
“One, for the team they have a great driver, if they need a replacement short term, if one of the drivers for some reason can not drive.
“And the next is of course that he is now in the team where he can learn a lot, first of all through a new structure, a big structure.”
Schumacher will be called upon to step in for either Lewis Hamilton or George Russell if either is unable to race.
However, Ralf says he expects that responsibility to trickle down to Aston Martin and Williams, who run Mercedes engines.
“For me, I think it’s a great opportunity,” he said. “Because he now has an experienced team, with two experienced team-mates, and above all, for a change, a team that is happy that he is there.
“I think that’s also the strength that Mick can have, to step in there and step on the gas.
“However, please do not only think of Mercedes, there’s nothing wrong with that, but at some point there could be a problem for Mercedes-operated teams and then they could turn to someone who is fresh from the the season and knows all the tracks and knows all the handling with the cars.”
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