Daniel Ricciardo Could Decide Mick Schumacher’s Fate as Both Drivers Reach Significant Crossroads

Two drivers whose future in Formula 1 is still not clear are Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo. While after a failed stint at McLaren, Ricciardo took a conscious decision of taking a year off from the sport, Mick’s situation is more of a forced one. He is still looking to continue at Haas and if that does not happen, his prospects in 2023 might rely on where Daniel Ricciardo goes.

Mick Schumacher has failed to impress Haas management in his two years with the team. While the dearth of points is something to worry about, it is his habit of crashing the car frequently, which is a matter of concern. For a team like Haas that does not function on big budgets like Mercedes, Red Bull, or Ferrari, frequent car crashes can be costly.

Is Mick Schumacher’s future in F1 linked with Daniel Ricciardo?

While Ricciardo intends to stay away from a regular driver’s role for the next year, he has stayed open to taking up the role of a reserve driver. Mick Schumacher is looking for a reserve driver role as well, as his chances of retaining the Haas seat look bleaker by the day. Daniel Ricciardo is in touch with Red Bull and Mercedes for the third driver’s seat.

Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt wrote, “[Schumacher and Ricciardo’s] decisions are linked.”

Ricciardo might prioritize Red Bull over Mercedes as a promotion to the regular driver role is likely there. Hamilton has cleared his intentions of signing a new long-term contract with the team. George Russell is expected to stay with the team for a long time. Therefore, Mick will approach Mercedes for the third driver’s role if Ricciardo lands at Red Bull.

Schmidt continued, “For Schumacher, a reserve driver contract with a team that’s third in the World Championship would not be a step backwards but sideways.” He added, “He may learn more there than with a small team in racing.”

Read More: “That’s My GOAT”: After Embarrassing Quali Result, Mick Schumacher’s Sprint Redemption Wins Over F1 World

Mick impressed with his blistering drive at the sprint race on Saturday. He finished P12 despite starting from the back of the grid. The German extracted the best out of the car despite facing engine issues.

Former Formula 1 champion backs Nico Hulkenberg to replace Mick Schumacher

Damon Hill recently appeared on the F1 Nation podcast. He talked about how Mick has proven costly for the team with his frequent crashes. He also delivered his verdict on who he thinks is the favorite to replace him.

Hill said, “I think he’s [Mick Schumacher] still dropping the ball and costing the team a lot of money when he, unfortunately, damages the car. So that was the issue.”

He continued, “Whether you put him, whether you stick with him and hope it’s going to turn around at some point. Or whether you stick in someone who’s an experienced old hand like Nico [Hulkenberg], you know, where they are really a guy that crashes the car is not what they need.”

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Will Mick’s recent resurgence of form help him keep the Haas seat in 2023? Or is it too late for him to keep his hopes up? Where do you think he will land if the Haas seat slips out from under him?