Now we’ll find out if Mick has his dad’s talent
HEAT ON SCHUMACHER JNR
HAAS boss Guenther Steiner is sure Mick Schumacher will deal with the pressure of carrying his father Michael’s legacy.
But Steiner admits we will have to wait a few seasons to see if the 22-year-old has inherited the seven-time world champion’s talent.
The name Schumacher returns to the Formula One grid in 2021, and with it comes enormous pressure on the rookie driver.
Haas have a new line-up, with Russian Nikita Mazepin starting his first campaign in F1.
But all eyes will be on F2 champion Mick, who is about to experience a debut like no other when the season begins in Bahrain this weekend.
“The excitement in Germany is huge,” said team principal Steiner.
“His father was such a great driver. He came from nowhere and won a lot, so for sure, it’s a brand that comes back.
“A lot of people just recognise it and will go back to watch it again.”
Until last year, when Hamilton equalled his record tally of titles, Schumacher snr was the most successful driver in history.
And not only does Mick carry his surname, but this season on the timing screens fans will see a familiar three letters ‘MSC’ rather than ‘SCH’ – a nod to his dad.
However, Steiner admitted it was too early to say if we will see any glimpses of Michael’s skills.
“Michael was an exceptional talent,” he explained. “You get one of those guys every 20 or 30 years.
“Let’s hope Mick has got that same talent but it’s too early to say.”
There will be a lot of pressure on the youngster to emulate his father but Steiner believes he has the capacity to overcome that.
“I think he will deal OK with it. His father didn’t come in and win a race in the first year and times have changed as well,” Steiner added.
“The fans will be impatient to see him winning, because you think he can just pick up where his father left off. But I think it will take him some time. He needs to deal with it.
“There will be pressure and some moments where he will not be happy because of the pressures.
“But when you are young you can take a lot.
“We just need to help him grow as a driver and a human being as well.”