The Swiss tabloid Blick can be merciless. After the headline from the Bahrain GP, one thing is certain: In our neighboring country, Mick Schumacher (23) no longer enjoys puppy protection. “Will Magnussen destroy Schumi’s career?” It read on Monday.
Even more: The combative Schumi announcement, if “Magnussen achieves this result, then I can do the same”, the Swiss question critically: “Even the biggest Schumi fans are amazed at these words. Where does Mick get this self-confidence to beat the Dane in his own team?”
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A verbal slap in the face for the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher, who lives on Lake Geneva in Switzerland and was even born in the country of the Confederates.
And a tough verdict given only one race in the 2022 season. Returnee Magnussen, whose driving qualities are undisputed, finished fifth in Bahrain. Schumacher’s eleventh place is also due to a bump from Alpine pilot Esteban Ocon shortly after the start.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP, all eyes are on Mick Schumacher.
“Mick struggled a bit more last weekend,” admits Haas team boss Günther Steiner. “In qualifying he made a small mistake on his fastest lap and then his race was affected by a spin when Esteban Ocon hit him in the back. That’s never a good thing because then you have to get your tires back in shape and you fall behind, but he’ll make up for that in the next few races.”
Strong from Mick: He takes it upon himself to make the strategic mistake of not getting new tires during the safety car phase towards the end of the race: “I made the decision to stay out and hold my position. Now I know that was the wrong decision, but we’ll do better next time.”
The German already has the chance to do so next weekend. Formula 1 drives in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), where Schumi junior failed last year after an accident. With the Haas VF-22, which is already referred to in the scene as the “white Ferrari” due to the close cooperation with the Scuderia, the German has a vehicle that should also be good for on the high-speed track thanks to a reinvigorated Ferrari engine Points. Steiner agrees: “The car should be competitive everywhere.”
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The nearby walls in Jeddah pose a great challenge. “So it will be interesting to see what damage can happen if you touch the wall,” warns Schumacher. “If you grazed the wall a little last year, for example, you could get away with a worn tire, but in this case the rims are a much more vulnerable target.”
For the up-and-coming star, this means: The pressure is increasing. A crash like 2021 would come at the wrong time. Even more: A good result in the team-internal duel is needed. Mainly because, unlike teammate Magnussen, Schumacher knows the track from last year.
But the fact is that it is too early to write off Schumi junior now. Or to put it in the words of his uncle Ralf: “Let’s just wait and see, it’ll be fine!”
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