Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has agreed with suggestions that Haas boss Guenther Steiner would’ve spoken to Mick Schumacher differently, had Michael Schumacher been by his side.
The 23-year-old is currently at Mercedes as their new reserve driver, after Wolff snapped up the German following his departure from Haas.
Schumacher spent two seasons at Haas before being axed from the side after his contract, with the Americans having replaced him with fellow German Nico Hulkenberg.
Hulkenberg has so far done incredibly well for Haas, with the 35-year-old having made it into Q3 twice already whilst he went on to finish seventh at the Australian Grand Prix.
Schumacher’s season, on the other hand, has been fairly quiet so far.
The young German is yet to drive Mercedes’ W14 but has often been seen with Wolff, who confirmed that Schumacher will be used should George Russell or Lewis Hamilton ever be unavailable.
“If one of our drivers gets covid or gets hurt, Mick will be in the car. Period, end of the discussion,” Wolff told the Swiss newspaper, Blick.
Wolff is trying to sort a test out in an old car for Schumacher as soon as possible, to at least give him the chance to drive this year.
Following his departure from Haas, Schumacher ensured that his goal was to return to the grid in 2024, where that could be, though, is an interesting question.
Regardless of whether he makes it onto the grid next year, Wolff is certain Steiner would’ve dealt with Schumacher differently if it wasn’t for his father’s absence, with Michael having not been seen since December 2013.
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The seven-time World Champion had a horrific skiing accident that left him with severe injuries, with his privacy having been respected ever since as a result.
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It means he’s never been able to enter the F1 paddock alongside his son, something which many believe would’ve had a positive impact on his career.
“We’re trying to get an old car ready for him as soon as possible,” Wolff insists.
“All I can say is that his parents did nothing wrong in bringing him up. And I agree that if Michael had been with his son during those two years at Haas, (Gunther) Steiner would not have dared to deal with Mick the way he did.”
