F1 News: Bernie Ecclestone Argues Mick Schumacher "Would Have Been In Good Hands" With Other Team

Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone speaks out on Mick Schumacher's career.

Mick Schumacher, following in the footsteps of his iconic father Michael Schumacher, concluded a challenging stint with the Haas Formula 1 team at the end of 2022 and has since signed as Mercedes' reserve driver as well as competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine in 2024. However, Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 boss, believes the German driver should have taken a different approach to his career.

Key Takeaways:

• Mick Schumacher's Transition from F2 Champion to F1: Despite his success in the lower racing categories, including a notable victory in the Formula 2 championship in 2020, Mick's journey with the Haas F1 team was shorter than many had anticipated, leading to his exit after just two seasons.
• Bernie Ecclestone's Reflections: Ecclestone shared his thoughts on Mick's career. He noted, "He would have been in good hands in a team like Red Bull with their junior program, where they help young drivers achieve victories. That spoiled a lot of things for him". 
• Mick's Future Endeavours and Optimism: Despite the setback in Formula 1, Mick Schumacher remains hopeful about his future in motorsports. He has secured a role as a reserve driver at Mercedes and will be participating in the WEC with Alpine.

Mick Schumacher, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, ended his tenure with the Haas F1 team at the end of 2022. Schumacher's entry into Formula 1 was supported by an impressive background in lower racing series, including his triumph as the Formula 2 champion in 2020 and his association with the Ferrari Driver Academy starting in 2019. However, his performance at Haas did not meet the high expectations set for him, leading to a rather abrupt end to this chapter of his career.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone offered a unique perspective on Mick's career. Reflecting on what might have been a more advantageous path, Ecclestone stated: 

"He would have been in good hands in a team like Red Bull with their junior program, where they help young drivers achieve victories. That spoiled a lot of things for him". 

Further, Ecclestone touched upon the impact of Michael Schumacher’s absence on Mick's career, suggesting:

"If his father had been there with him, he could have had a completely different influence on him". 

Mick Schumacher now looks ahead to new opportunities in motorsports. He will continue with Mercedes as a reserve driver and will compete in the WEC with Alpine this year.