Mick Schumacher: Eifel GP F1 experience “very valuable” despite no running

Mick Schumacher says his experience with Alfa Romeo F1 at this weekend's Eifel Grand Prix is proving to be “very valuable” despite not driving in FP1 after the session was cancelled due to poor visibility. 

Friday practice at the Nurburgring was curtailed by poor visibility due to fog meaning the medical helicopter couldn’t fly.

The FIA regulations state the helicopter must be able to fly so it can get to the nearest hospital in a timely fashion in the event of an emergency.

While Schumacher wasn’t unable to get his first taste of 2020 F1 machinery, the German believes this weekend will be a valuable experience in his development as a driver as he looks to secure a full-time seat in 2021.

“I think at the end it has been a shame not able to get out,” Schumacher said. “We knew the forecast didn’t look great, obviously this time of the year in the Eifel is not the most sure it’s going to be dry.

“I will stay with here in the team [for the rest of the weekend] and go over the meetings and also the procedures on how the F1 drivers are doing at the moment to get an insight into how things are running. So definitely I think it’s going to be very valuable for me, good information for me and I am very much looking forward to.”

With Imola, Istanbul and Portimao coming up - tracks which are either new or returning to the F1 calendar - Schumacher admits he’s unsure whether he will get another opportunity to drive in an FP1 this season as the official drivers will need track time in practice to get accustomed to these aforementioned circuits. 

“Obviously, we have to wait and see how things develop,” Schumacher added. “There’s a lot of tracks coming up which are not often driven on so also the official drivers need their time in the car, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Schumacher sits top of the Formula 2 championship with two rounds remaining, 22 points clear of fellow Ferrari junior Callum Ilott, who was set to drive for Haas in FP1 before the session was cancelled.