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Mick Schumacher has been announced as Mercedes’ Formula 1 reserve driver for the 2023 season.
The news was issued swiftly after an announcement from Ferrari that it was cutting its long-standing ties with the 23-year-old German.
Schumacher will be present at all grands prix next season in the role in case he is needed to deputise for either George Russell or Lewis Hamilton, and will carry out substantial simulator work for the eight-time champion team.
He has raced for Haas for the past two seasons, but has been replaced by Nico Hulkenberg for 2023.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had said last month that a reserve seat was there for the taking if Schumacher and his manager Sabine Kehm were keen, saying the son of seven-time world champion Mick Schumacher “just fits” with Mercedes.
“Mick is a talented young driver and we’re delighted to have him join the team,” said Wolff.
“He is a hard worker, has a calm and methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver.
“These are all important qualities, and we’re excited for him to help us develop the W14.
“We also know that with two years of experience racing in Formula 1 under his belt, he will be ready to step into the car at short notice to replace either Lewis or George, should that need arise.”
Schumacher had expressed what’s best described as polite displeasure when Haas announced his exit last month, arguing strongly that he had more to offer in F1 than he had yet had chance to show.
“I take this as a new start,” he said of the Mercedes deal, “and I am just excited and grateful to Toto and everybody involved for putting their trust in me.
“F1 is such a fascinating world, and you never stop learning, so I look forward to absorbing more knowledge and putting in all my efforts for the benefit of the Mercedes team.”
Mercedes had previously had its Formula E drivers Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne as reserves, but De Vries (pictured above in Mexico) has secured an AlphaTauri F1 race seat for 2023 and Mercedes’ FE exit has led to Vandoorne joining DS Penske in the electric series while also becoming Aston Martin’s main F1 reserve following Hulkenberg’s switch to Haas.
Mercedes had also discussed a reserve deal with Daniel Ricciardo before he chose to take up a position at Red Bull instead.
Ferrari took Schumacher – whose father Michael won five of his seven F1 world championships with the team – under its wing in 2019.
It supported him through his two seasons in Formula 2, culminating in his 2020 title, gave him F1 testing mileage in both current and older machinery plus with its customer teams as part of its Driver Academy programme, and paved the way for his 2021 Haas race seat.
But though Schumacher comprehensively outperformed fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin at Haas in his first year, his performance against Kevin Magnussen this year left too many doubts in the team’s mind – especially given his crash rate.
Mercedes also has long-standing Schumacher family ties, having given Michael his first major career break in sportscars in the 1990s then enticed him into an F1 comeback when it launched its current works team for 2010.
