Mick Schumacher

1. Who is Mick Schumacher?

Mick Schumacher is a German driver, born March 22, 1999 in Vufflens-le-Chateau in Switzerland. After two years in Formula 1 with Haas, he worked as a reserve driver for Mercedes.

Mick Schumacher. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

2. Mick Schumacher’s junior career

To escape the pressure and expectations linked to the surname he inherited from his father, Mick Schumacher began his career in karting under his mother's name, Betsch, in 2008. Six years later, he became vice-champion of world under the name of Mick junior. Throughout his career in the promotion formulas, the German often had difficulty adapting to the categories, before performing well in the second year. 10th in F4 ADAC in 2015, he finished vice-champion in Italian F4 the following year with Prema.

A team in which he will complete his entire career since that date. The pattern was similar in the Formula 3 European Championship with a 12th place in his first year, before winning the title the following year, thanks to a strong end to the season against Daniel Ticktum. In Formula 2, his first season was sluggish in 2020 alongside Sean Gelael.

That year he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy and finished 12th again. But it was in 2021 that Mick Schumacher was crowned champion, thanks to impressive consistency. Michael Schumacher's son proved extremely consistent at the end of the season and topped the Callum Ilott - Robert Shwartzman duo, thanks in particular to that little something extra during the starts, which allowed him to make the difference at the start of the race. In 2021, Mick Schumacher starts in Formula 1 at Haas.

3. Mick Schumacher’s Grand Prix journey (Formula 1)

Even before being assured of the Formula 2 champion title, the German was announced at Haas alongside Nikita Mazepin for the 2021 season. Placed in the American team by Ferrari, the son of Michael Schumacher benefits from an environment favorable to learn your skills at the wheel of a single-seater which is, however, very uncompetitive.

The main thing is elsewhere for him, who can acclimatize to the premier category, far from the inherent pressure induced by his surname. Sportingly, Mick Schumacher could only really be compared to his Russian teammate, also a rookie in Formula 1. And in this little game, the German obtained results that speak for him.

Mick Schumacher actually beat Nikita Mazepin 16-6 in the race and even 20-2 in qualifying. With a 12th place as his best result in the race, the German showed great abilities. His investment in work allowed him to progress even if the level of his teammate during his first year does not really allow us to gauge him perfectly.

Mick Schumacher made his F1 debut with Haas.

Logically, the son of the Red Baron was returned the following year to the American team but, this time, alongside a much more experienced driver: the returning Kévin Magnussen. This time, the teammate is a real witness to the sophomore's performance and the car is better. But the German suffers more from the comparison. 16-6 in qualifying, 25 points brought back by Magnussen against 12 for Mick.

Despite a 13-8 advantage in the race with fewer retirements on his record and his first points scored during the British Grand Prix, Schumacher Junior did not shine. The season ends bitterly in 16th place…

…And without a seat for the following year. Haas needs an experienced driver to escape from the back of the grid and start 2023 in better conditions. He will be dismissed in favor of his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg.

Mick Schumacher will continue to gravitate into the paddock next season as a reserve and development driver for Mercedes.

The Schumacher family maintains close ties with Mercedes / © Mercedes-AMG

4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Mick Schumacher

You don't win Formula 3 and Formula 2 without being able to boast of good driving skills. Mick Schumacher obviously has undoubted talent, but above all he is an outstanding worker. Like his father, the son leaves nothing to chance, and likes to build a close relationship with his team and his engineers.

His career path in the promotion formula and his chronic difficulty during his first years at each level of the pyramid demonstrates a real limit with regard to his ability to adapt.

Unfortunately, the performances were too fair even if 2022 looked more like a rookie year than a second campaign. Many people have seen the doors of F1 close… and open again.

5. Learn more about Mick Schumacher

• Does Mick Schumacher really have a future at Ferrari?
• Schumacher, return of a surname in F1
• Mick Schumacher crowned Formula 2 champion