MICK A SCHU-IN TO DRAW FANS
Legendary name makes a return to the grid
HAAS team boss Guenther Steiner is sure Mick Schumacher will deal with the pressure of carrying his father’s legacy.
But Steiner admits we will have to wait a few years to see if he has inherited his dad’s talent.
The name Schumacher returns to the F1 grid on Sunday in Bahrain and with it comes enormous pressure on the 22-year-old rookie son of seventime world champion Michael.
Haas have a new line-up this season, with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin stepping up into his first season in F1.
But all eyes will be on Formula 2 champion Mick, who is about to experience a debut like no other.
“The excitement in Germany is huge, I say Germany because obviously he is from there, but it’s worldwide because his father was such a great driver, he won seven championships,” said Steiner.
“I know it was an era, but 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 go back to watch it again.”
Until last year, Schumacher Snr was the most successful grand prix 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 father’s legacy. However, Steiner admitted it was too early to say if we will see any glimpses of his dad’s skills on track this season.
“He has got talent, because he won Formula 2, because otherwise he wouldn’t be with us,” said Steiner.
“Michael was a seven-time world champion with two different teams, two with one, five with the other, so he was an exceptional talent.
“You get one of these guys every 20 or 30 years. Let’s hope Mick has got that same talent, but it’s too early to say and times have changed as well.
“But for sure he has got talent. How big it is, we will find out in the next years – not in the next weeks, the next years.”
There will be a lot of pressure on the youngster to emulate his father.
But Steiner said: “I think he will deal okay with it, his father didn’t come in and win a race in the first year, but times have changed as well.
“I think he’s well prepared for it. 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 some time.
“But I think he needs to deal with it. There will be pressure and some moments 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.”