Haas F1 team owner Gene Haas admits Mick Schumacher has potential but has “destroyed a lot of cars and cost a lot”.
Mick Schumacher is fighting to keep his seat at the Haas F1 team for 2023 and it is understood he will face head-to-head competition with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen next season for a partner seat.
The future of Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, is uncertain after a series of major crashes early in the season left him without results.
At the NASCAR race in Las Vegas on Sunday, Gene Haas admitted that 23-year-old Mick Schumacher had made the Haas F1 team spend “a lot of money”.
“In some ways, rookie drivers can’t help it, the sport doesn’t allow it. It’s too expensive,” Gene Haas told the Associated Press.
“A mistake in driver selection, strategy or tire selection can cost millions of dollars.”
“I think Mick has a lot of potential, but I know he’s cost a lot, destroyed a lot of cars and cost a lot that we don’t have.”
“If the driver is (Max) Verstappen and he gives us points, if he destroys the car, we deal with it. But if you are behind and the car is be destroyed, it is very difficult.
The Haas F1 Team became less competitive as the season progressed, but Mick Schumacher’s improved performances since the summer break have kept him in position to drive for 2023.
In the last five races, Mick Schumacher has surpassed his teammate Kevin Magnussen three times, making him almost equal. Magnussen had a clear advantage over Schumacher early in the season.
The Haas F1 Team driver has also not scored points since the Austrian Grand Prix in July, and Gene Haas said Mick Schumacher’s future is in his own hands and he needs more points. He says he will secure a seat.
“Mick’s future depends on Mick,” explained Gene Haas.
“We’re just waiting. Mick needs to bring points and we’re trying to give him as much time as possible to see what he can do.”
“If he wants to stay with us, he has to show us that he can score more points. That’s what we’re waiting for.”
When asked if Schumacher could prove himself in the last four races, Gene Haas said: “Well, if he wins the next race, he will be with us. Somewhere in the middle. There are gray areas,” he said.
The Haas F1 Team hopes to return to points at this weekend’s home race, the United States Grand Prix.
Category: F1 / A household / Mick Schumacher
