SCHUMACHER JR SIGNS FOR HAAS
Just three more Formula 1 drives remained theoretically open for 2021 as this issue of GP Racing went to press ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Mick Schumacher, son of seven-times world champion Michael, was confirmed at Haas alongside Nikita Mazepin (see p68) just days before securing the Formula 2 drivers’ championship at the final round.
Only Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon and Daniil Kvyat remain out of contract. Hamilton’s renewal with Mercedes is believed to be merely a formality, albeit one delayed by his COVID-19 diagnosis – though there are those who suggest Mercedes’ choice of George Russell as a stand-in, rather than reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne, was a negotiating ploy by team principal Toto Wolff. Albon’s situation is rather more nuanced, and Red Bull has said it will wait until after the season has finished to decide whether he will be retained.
Mazepin faced not qualifying for a superlicence if he had a poor weekend in the F2 finale. He finished ninth in both races, dropping to fifth in the final standings, but still within the qualifying threshold. Schumacher also had a scrappy weekend, finishing sixth and 18th, but rival Callum Ilott’s fifth and 10th were insufficient to overhaul Schumacher’s points total.
Albon also has nervous times ahead. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has ruled out the prospect of Albon returning to Alphatauri. There, Daniil Kvyat is expected to be replaced by Honda protégé Yuki Tsunoda, who rose to third in the F2 standings by finishing first and second during the Sakhir GP weekend. Albon must therefore persuade Red Bull to retain him if he is to remain in F1.
GP Racing understands that Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez remain in contention for the second Red Bull seat. Pérez had appeared to rule himself out, calling a press conference in which he admitted to the possibility of taking a sabbatical, though he also said he already has “options to go back to F1 in 2022”. But his finely judged – if slightly fortuitous – Sakhir GP victory served as a timely reminder of his credentials.
“SCHUMACHER WAS CONFIRMED JUST DAYS BEFORE SECURING THE F2 DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP”