Mick Schumacher explains request for ‘MSC’ as his F1 timing screen name

Mick Schumacher says he requested to use the ‘MSC’ abbreviation for his timing screen name in Formula 1.

The abbreviation was used by his legendary father, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, during his F1 career to distinguish him from his brother Ralf Schumacher.

The reigning Formula 2 champion has previously raced under the ‘SCH’ abbreviation but wanted to change it ahead of his debut F1 season with Haas this year.

"I wanted 'MSC'," Schumacher explained. "It's an emotional bond I have to it.

"I think it's quite nice for everybody watching the timing screens and seeing 'MSC' back on the screens as well. There are some positives to it.”

Despite being set-back by a gearbox issue on the opening day, Schumacher was still able to log 181 laps across three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain as he gears up for his rookie F1 campaign.

The 21-year-old German says he learned “a massive amount of new things which were all positive” during his first-ever F1 pre-season.

“It’s a lot of fun driving here in a Formula 1 car,” Schumacher added. “It’s amazing how quick it is.

“Being able to push so hard and rely on the rear and really feeling the grip the changes in the setup. There are a lot of tools that you can use to improve the driving on track instantly.

“So that’s pretty positive for me coming from Formula 2, where you basically had nothing to to change.”