Formula 1: Haas team boss unpacks about relationship with Mick Schumacher

formula 1

At the end of 2022, the Haas team decided not to renew the contract of 23-year-old Mick Schumacher. Because the racing team took its time with the decision, all the other cockpits were already occupied at the time, and Schumacher had not previously been given a place with another team. That’s why his Formula 1 career is now getting an involuntary turning point: He will only be a test driver for Mercedes next season.

Meanwhile, Schumacher himself is not resentful when it comes to his sacking from Haas, at least Günther Steiner believes. In an interview with “RTL / ntv”, the boss of the racing team talks about the relationship with his former protégé and his future prospects in Formula 1.

“One step back, two forwards”: Steiner believes in Schumacher’s future in F1

“I think we still talk to each other and say hello,” explains Steiner. After all, “in the end both played with open cards.” Steiner had previously emphasized that Haas-Aus did not come as a surprise to Schumacher.

In general, Steiner does not believe that Schumacher’s Formula 1 future is endangered by Haas being kicked out: “Sometimes one step back is two forwards,” he says confidently.

“He’s put himself in a good position with a team where he has the best chance of a regular cockpit.”, Steiner evaluates Schumacher’s new job at Mercedes. The 23-year-old is currently only a test pilot there because the two regular cockpits have been assigned to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

But: “Mercedes has many sibling teams,” Steiner knows, and remembers 27-year-old Nyck de Vries: “He [ist letztes Jahr] stepped in at Williams and got a regular cockpit at AlphaTauri this way.” It could be similar for Mick Schumacher.

Mercedes allegedly offers Hamilton a pension contract with a mega salary

It is relatively unlikely that Schumacher will displace Hamilton or 25-year-old Russell – who clinched his first race win at the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi – in the near future. Unless the 38-year-old ex-world champion decides to end his career.

Like the French sports and business portal “sports tune“reported, Mercedes wants to prevent this at all costs. Accordingly, the racing team is preparing a mega offer for its star: Hamilton should earn a full 45 million euros a year as a Mercedes driver over two races. If the Brit wins the World Cup again, he can expect an additional 25 million euro bonus.

According to “Sportune”, the offer should also include a plan for the time after the end of your career. Accordingly, Hamilton should become a Mercedes ambassador after leaving Formula 1. Supposedly for 25 million euros per year, and that for ten years.