Mick Schumacher put on a brave showing ahead of the 2022 Mexico Grand Prix, as questions continue to swirl about his future at Haas.
After a disappointing Formula 1 season, Schumacher has left the Ferrari Driver Academy and there’s been rumours about his 2023 seat since before the summer break.
Nico Hulkenberg is the main contender for the seat, while Antonio Giovinazzi is inexplicably in the frame, as well as Daniel Ricciardo and F2 champion Felipe Drugovich are also without drives for 2023.
“It’s not difficult, I’m here to do my job and I’m here to do well,” Schumacher told the press in Mexico City.
“So that’s what my main focus is on and that’s everything that I’m in control of so I’m just trying to do my best and that’s what I’m here for.”
After comfortably beating the talent-limited Nikita Mazepin in their rookie F1 seasons, Schumacher’s endured a difficult second year in F1 and has only scored on two occasions.
After incident-packed weekends in Saudi Arabia, Emilia Romagna and Monaco, Schumacher has been more competitive since the summer break but that upturn may be too late for the German.
Ralf Schumacher jumped to his nephew’s defence ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, saying Mick’s done ‘more than enough’ to earn his seat, but team boss Guenther Steiner has been less glowing.
Schumacher was in line for Alpine seat but after losing out on that to Pierre Gasly, it’s almost certainly Haas-or-bust.
If he is deposed at Haas, a final option could be Williams. Their junior Logan Sargeant will get the seat if he earns enough super licence points but that will only be confirmed at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, if he misses out then Williams will be searching for a driver and Schumacher could be their man.
Mick credits unsung hero
As Schumacher‘s Haas career could be coming to an end, he also paid tribute to his race engineer Gary Gannon.
Gannon has been in his ear since Schumacher entered F1, having been with the Banbury-based team before they were Haas – way back to the days of Virgin Racing back in 2011.
“He’s always been someone I can always rely on, he’s definitely a very calm person,” Schumacher said.
“But behind the scenes he does like to get angry, so there’s some emotions but no it’s been great.
“Especially as a rookie coming in he’s shown me the way he’s shown me what’s important and I think we’ve really managed to build up a really good understanding when it comes to driving our car, we work together to go in the same direction and go forwards.”
