Mick Schumacher’s first race out of F1: “I’m not okay with not being in the car”
The ex-Haas driver lost his full-time seat so is Mercedes’ third driver this season, and cut a frustrated figure in the paddock at the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
He was forced to watch on as his new team slumped to what team principal Toto Wolff called his “worst day in racing”.
Schumacher reflected: "I've been sat on this stool there with my hands and my arms and just felt like the day was never going to end because I just wanted to jump into the car.
"But it's also another factor which proves to me and to myself that I really, really want this – and it shows that I'm not okay with not being in the car. I don't know what the future brings.
"It's difficult to say. I feel very much at home at Mercedes, and therefore definitely have to see what options I have for the upcoming season.
“But also, I guess, a lot of that will be kind of shown as the year goes by."
Schumacher spoke about his transition as a full-time Haas driver to a Mercedes third driver: "It definitely feels great for me because I've come from a car, obviously, which has been quite difficult to drive and jump into a simulator which is pretty accurate and pretty close to, I would say, reality.
"It has been really good to have that feeling to be also able to try out a few different things in the simulator. From what the drivers say, it's really not too far away."
Schumacher is still only 23 and has plenty of time to return to the grid on a full-time basis, even if his ambition of a comeback in 2024 must be pushed back.
Nyck de Vries was Mercedes’ third driver last season and he earned an AlphaTauri drive.
In the meantime, Schumacher’s role in the simulator for Mercedes could intensify as the team re-think the concept to their W14.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
