Feb.2 - Mercedes is not currently planning to give Mick Schumacher outings at the wheel of its Formula 1 car.

This week, the Haas refugee had seat fittings not only at Mercedes' Brackley headquarters, but in the cockpit of a Mercedes-powered McLaren.

"McLaren will be able to call on Mick as a reserve driver during the 2023 F1 season as part of our arrangement with Mercedes," the Woking based team confirmed.

Schumacher will also be reserve F1 driver for McLaren this year

Mick Schumacher doing seat fitting at McLaren

"Welcome to the family, Mick."

However, Auto Motor und Sport believes that despite the 23-year-old's seat fittings, "test laps in the real Silver Arrows are currently not planned".

The German magazine said Mercedes "confirmed" that news.

And as Haas revealed the new predominantly black livery for 2023, which no longer features the Schumacher-linked German sponsor 1+1, boss Gunther Steiner said the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher actually "improved a lot" in 2022.

"I have to say, we were pleasantly surprised by what he brought," said the Haas team boss. "But we decided that it would be better for the team to bring in an experienced driver again."

And with new title sponsor Moneygram, Haas is now pushing up against F1's budget cap limit - with Steiner saying the "long-term" sponsorship means the team's "financial future is completely under control".

"I tell my engineers that now the limit is no longer in the availability of money, but talent - your talent," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint.

"We want to finish the championship in sixth place," Steiner also told Auto Motor und Sport.

"The budget is no longer an alibi."


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7 F1 Fan comments on “Schumacher will also be reserve F1 driver for McLaren this year

  1. Jere Jyrälä

    As expected & he’ll probably also become available for Williams should a need for substitution arise.
    AM already has Vandoorne & Drugovich, so only if neither attends.

    Reply
    • shroppyfly

      same for mcl they already have a reserve driver, as for merc, i cant see either driver given the contract run out dates in place, letting Mick in the car this yr

      Reply
      • Jere Jyrälä

        No, they don't. They haven't had a specifically-nominated reserve driver (not all teams do) for a while, so they've only shared with Mercedes.

        Reply
  2. shroppyfly

    McLaren
    Reserve driver: Alex Palou
    Test and development driver: Will Stevens
    Test and development driver: Oliver Turvey
    McLaren will employ its own reserve drivers again in 2023. In recent years, the team has relied on engine partner Mercedes for any emergency substitutes. Next season, Alex Palou is the official reserve driver. He is also active in IndyCar.

    Reply

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