Former Mercedes F1 reserve driver and current Formula E champion Stoffel Van Doorn gives his opinion on the situation facing Mick Schumacher and what he wants to do to avoid a long stagnation in his racing career.
Mick Schumacher, 23, who was sacked from the Haas F1 team after just two seasons, is now worried about his future in F1 as Mercedes’ reserve driver.
Mick Schumacher’s role at Mercedes is mainly to help the team’s engine development through simulator work. The opportunity to race in F1 this year will only come if either Lewis Hamilton or George Russell are forced to miss a race weekend for whatever reason.
Mick Schumacher has fans in the F1 paddock, but his absence from the grid this season is a cause for concern for his career.
Stoffel Vandoorne, who used to hold the same role in Mercedes F1, feels that Mick Schumacher needs to decide what his career priorities are.
Stoffel Vandoorne is in a good position to give advice to Mick Schumacher. Not only has he been Mercedes’ F1 reserve driver for the past two years, but he has also lost his place in F1 after just a few seasons. Losing McLaren’s F1 seat after the 2018 season, he turned to the Formula E star and took the 2022 title
“We all have different career paths and everyone’s paths work out in very different ways,” Stoffel Vandoorne told Mirror Sport about the Mick Schumacher situation.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to Mick to decide what he wants to do and where he wants to focus his efforts.”
“For me it was an easy decision to go to Formula E and since I joined I have focused on this championship and trying to do the best I can. We were able to win the championship.”
As for the possibility of returning to F1, 30-year-old Stoffel Vandoorne is open to the possibility but does not spend much time or energy thinking about it. Because you never know what will happen in your motorsport career.
“Honestly, I don’t know, but it’s not in the back of my mind,” said Stoffel Vandoorne.
“My focus is Formula E, and that’s where I’m running at the moment. All I can do is go as fast as I can and perform as well as I can on this track, and you’ll see.
Category: F1 / Stoffel Vandoorne / mercedes / Formula E / Mick Schumacher
