Haas boss reveals his true relationship with Schumacher
Mick Schumacher (left) and Gunther Steiner worked together at Haas for two years. Photo: www.imago-images.de / Laci Perenyi
Formula 1
At the end of 2022, the Haas team decided not to renew the contract of 23-year-old Mick Schumacher. As the racing team took its time with the decision, all the other cockpits were already occupied by that time, and Schumacher had never before secured a place with another team. This is why his Formula 1 career is now getting an involuntary turning point: He will only be a test driver for Mercedes next season.
Schumacher won Formula 3 and Formula 2. At the time, his future in Formula 1 was uncertain.Bild: www.imago-images.de / Motorsport Pictures
Meanwhile, Schumacher himself has no qualms when it comes to his sacking from Haas, at least thought Gunter Steiner. In an interview with RTL / ntv, the head of the racing team spoke about the relationship with his former student and his future prospects in the Formula 1.
‘One step back, two steps forward’: Steiner believes in Schumacher’s F1 future
“I think we’re still talking to each other and saying hello,” Steiner explains. After all, “in the end, both played with open cards.” Steiner had earlier confirmed that Haas-Aus was no surprise to Schumacher.
Günther Steiner (photo) is hoping to take more world championship points from Schumacher than new driver Nico Hülkenberg.Bild: www.imago-images.de / The Beautiful Sport
Not at all, Steiner believes Schumacher’s Formula 1 future is in jeopardy because of the Haas dismissal: “Sometimes one step back is two steps forward,” he says confidently.
“He has positioned himself well with a team where he has the best chance in the regular cockpit.”, Steiner assesses Schumacher’s new job at Mercedes. The 23-year-old is currently only a test pilot there because the two regular cockpits are assigned to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
But: “Mercedes has many sister teams,” Steiner knows and remembers 27-year-old Nick de Vries: “He [ist letztes Jahr] I stepped into a Williams and got into the regular AlphaTauri cockpit that way. He could be similar to Mick Schumacher.
Mercedes is alleged to be offering Hamilton a pension contract with a huge salary
It is relatively unlikely that Schumacher will unseat Hamilton or 25-year-old Russell – who clinched his first win in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi – in the near future. Unless the 38-year-old former world champion decides to end his career.
Lewis Hamilton is currently one of the highest paid athletes in the world.Build: Imago / Action Plus
Like the French sports and business portal “sportsI mentioned, Mercedes wants to prevent this at all costs. Accordingly, the racing team is preparing a huge offer for its star: Hamilton should earn 45 million euros a year as a Mercedes driver over two races.. If the Briton wins the World Cup again, he can expect an additional €25 million bonus.
According to “Sportune,” the offer should also include a plan for the time after the end of your career. Accordingly, Hamilton should become a Mercedes ambassador after leaving Formula 1. Presumably for 25 million euros a year, for a period of ten years.