Mick Schumacher revels in role at Mercedes as reserve Formula 1 driver and simulator specialist

After losing his race seat with Haas for the 2023 season, Schumacher joined Mercedes as a back-up behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and he has been immersing himself in his new responsibilities with gusto.

In a recent diary entry for the official Mercedes website, Schumacher shared his thoughts on his first few months with the team, saying, "Since I joined Mercedes, I've been settling in great. Everybody is just so open-minded towards me, and that made me feel welcome from the first moment I stepped into the factory in Brackley. I've spent a lot of time there in these first months. It's a very impressive facility."

Schumacher has been primarily working in the simulator, drawing on his experience of racing under the new regulations to provide valuable feedback to the team. He expressed his eagerness to contribute wherever he can, saying, "It's not enough for me to just sit on the side-lines, I want to be helpful wherever I can. Of course, it's not the real thing and I would love to be driving the W14!"

Schumacher also spoke about the privilege of working with Hamilton and Russell, saying, "It's been fascinating working with Lewis and George. It's an interesting period for me as I get to look over and work with two fantastic drivers, which you don't always get to do." He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to learn from them and gain valuable insights into race weekend preparations.

One aspect of his role that surprised Schumacher was the amount of radio conversations that take place during on-track sessions. He said, "As a driver, you usually do not get to hear what is going on between all the engineers while you are out on the track, so listening in during the sessions has been extremely interesting. I was quite shocked at the season opener in Bahrain, I did not expect the sheer amount of exchange that happens."

Schumacher also appreciated the collaborative nature of working with the Mercedes team, and added, "What I really appreciate in working with those engineers is that they are genuinely listening to you and your opinion matters, and what is special from an emotional side is that many people who are working for the team now were working here when my dad was driving."

Despite a challenging start to the 2023 season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Mercedes showed progress in the recent Australian Grand Prix, with Hamilton finishing second to Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Schumacher's contributions in the simulator and as a reserve driver are aimed at helping the team in their development program throughout the year.

As Schumacher continues to settle into his role at Mercedes, he remains eager to learn and contribute as much as he can. He is determined to make the most of this opportunity and follow in his father's footsteps as he navigates the world of Formula 1 with dedication and passion.

With his positive attitude and drive to excel, Schumacher could be poised to make a significant impact on the Mercedes team in the seasons to come.