Mick Schumacher has given a rare insight into his father Michael’s influence on his life and racing career.
The German, son of Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher, is currently Mercedes reserve driver to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
The Silver Arrows have an incredible legacy with the Schumacher name, having been the team Michael competed for before he retired.
After stepping away from the sport in 2006, the Ferrari legend returned in 2010 for Mercedes’ first season back in F1.
The seven-time world champion put the team on a path to unparalleled success with Hamilton and Toto Wolff at the helm.
However, he suffered a life-altering brain injury following a skiing accident in 2013 and updates on his health have been scarce since.
His son Mick has now offered fans a rare glimpse into their relationship in the new ‘Inside Mercedes F1’ book released this week.
He said: “I was a crazy kid – everything my dad did, I did. I started karting aged three. I was six when I first went scuba diving. Aged ten I was skydiving. My dad was always very open to me trying out whatever I wanted to do and racing is all I wanted to do, because I enjoyed it the most.
“He was really supportive and a lot of fun, but could also be challenging. One time in a karting race I braked very late going into a corner and gained a lot of time. When I told him about it, he said, “Yes, but you should have braked like that in every corner!
“Whenever he felt like I was not taking it seriously, he would say, ‘Mick, would you rather go and play football with your friends? If so, we do not need to do all of this’. I insisted that I wanted to race and he said, ‘Okay, then let’s do it properly’. So we started doing more European karting and I was getting better.”
Schumacher Jr. continued: “I started racing in the Formula classes the year after (the accident) and from that point onwards, I had to find my own feet.
“But I definitely learned a lot of technical points from him that I still use today, as well as from his coaching. And I have always been very resilient.”
Schumacher has had to use every inch of that resilience this week, after his dream of returning to F1 next year was cruelly ended.
The 25-year-old was overlooked for the vacant Sauber seat – the final available spot on the 2024 grid – by F2 talent Gabriel Bortoleto.
Schumacher has been languishing in the F1 wilderness since a two-year stint at Haas ended in 2022.
He has since had to make do with conducting simulator work for Mercedes at their Brackley-based headquarters.
Schumacher lost out to Jack Doohan to partner Pierre Gasly at Alpine after both tested at the Paul Ricard Circuit ahead of the British Grand Prix, despite competing for the team in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year.
Mercedes boss Wolff pushed hard for Schumacher to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams once the latter was axed by team principal James Vowles, who was the motorsport strategy director at the Silver Arrows.
However, Argentine Franco Colapinto was chosen to complete the season and his impressive form has led to strong interest from rivals.
Schumacher’s uncle Ralf has admitted Mick’s only way back onto a Grand Prix grid would be in similar circumstances as a stand-in.
“Formula 1 is a crazy business, For Mick, unfortunately, the subject of Formula 1 is quite unrealistic unless someone drops out due to illness,” he told Sky DE.
“He has had to go through a lot recently, he heard via a [social media] post from Alpine that he would not be in the car. I’m sure he’s disappointed, but he can deal with the decision.”
“It will now be extremely difficult to return to Formula 1, although he would have deserved it given his abilities and achievements.
“But it is not impossible, I have already experienced too much for that,” he added to F1 Insider.
“Who would have thought a few weeks ago that a young driver like Franco Colapinto would suddenly arouse the desire of top teams? Nevertheless, Mick must now concentrate on other series.”
