Mick Schumacher’s first race out of F1: “I’m not okay with not being in the car”
The ex-Haas driver lost his full-time seat so is Mercedes’ third driv🍸er this season, and cut a frustrated figure in the paddock at the F1 Bahrain♐ Grand Prix.
He was forced to watch on as his new team slumped to what team principal Toto Wolff called his “worst ☂day in racing”.
Schumacher reflected: "I've been sat on this stool there with my hands and my armsꩵ and just felt like the day was never going to end because I just wanted to jump into the car.
"But it's also another factor which proves to me and to myself thﷺat I really, really want this – and it shows that I'm not okay with not being in the car. I don't know what the future brings.
"It's difficult to say. I feel very much at𓄧 home at Mercedes, and therefore definitely have to see what options I have for the upcoming season.
“But also, I guess, a lot of that will be🌜 kind of shown as ꦗthe year goes by."
Schumacher spoke about his transition as a full-time Haas driver to a Mercedes third driver: "It definitely feels great for me because I've come from a carﷺ, obviously, which has been quite difficult to drive and jump into a simula꧑tor which is pretty accurate and pretty close to, I would say, reality.
"It has been really good to have that feelin🐲g to be also able to try out a few different things in the simulator. From what the drivers say, it's really not too far away."
Schumacher is still only 23 and has plenty of time to retur♕n to the grid on a full-time basis, even if his ambition of a comeback in🐠 2024 must be pushed back.
Nyck de Vries was Mercedes’ ꧅third driver last season and he earned an AlphaTauri drive.
In the meantime, Schumacher’s role in the simulator for Mer♚cedes could intensify as the team re-think the concept to their W1🦋4.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everyth🃏ing from American sports, to 🐓football, to F1.
