Ex-Ferrari Boss Defends Mick Schumacher Against Weight of “Expectations” With a Massive Claim

To date, Formula 1 has had World Champions clinching the title seven times – and Michael Schumacher is one of them. The German racing star has made his name with his impeccable records, driving for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes. In fact, Michael’s brother, Ralf Schumacher, is also a celebrated racer, and their family is hailed in Germany as one of the most noteworthy clans. Bearing such a prestigious legacy, Mick Schumacher entered Formula 1 in 2021. But as a Haas recruit, he failed to live up to the expectations of F1 pundits and his fans.

Ultimately, his team boss Guenther Steiner ousted the former F2 World Champion, citing a lack of good results in 2022. Ever since getting the boot from his American squad, Mick Schumacher has not had a chance to return to regular racing in F1. Moreover, as the son of a seven-time World Champion, he has been under scrutiny for his failure to succeed in the sport. However, former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, a close friend of Michael Schumacher’s, recently shared his views on the pressure given upon Mick, just because of his legendary family.

Jean Todt wants Mick’s F1 dream fulfilled

As a person who has been Ferrari’s head as well as the former President of the FIA, Jean Todt has seen Formula 1 up close. The veteran passed his judgment on Mick Schumacher’s current situation, narrating his insights during an exchange quoted by SkySports. Todt said, “Many people think that his surname is an advantage – but it became a disadvantage. The pressure that was put on him was unfair. Of course, he had a few accidents, some of which were his own fault. [But] the expectations placed on him were unreasonable – and the car was not competitive.”

And then, Jean Todt went on to make a massive claim, adding, “I want to see him [Mick] achieve his dreams and I am convinced that he deserves a seat in Formula 1. Mick is better than half of the Formula 1 drivers.”

Thus, Todt is clearly going to back Mick Schumacher as he believes the 25-year-old caved under immense public scrutiny. Serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes, Mick has stayed in the background of F1 till now, continuing his search for a seat on any of the teams. However, he has been unsuccessful in breaking into the Drivers’ Market in 2023 and 2024. At the moment, many opportunities are opening up ahead of the ’25 season, so, Mick might soon get a return to the cockpit as a regular driver.

Mick Schumacher might land a French deal ahead of 2025

After a long wait on the sidelines for an F1 seat, Mick Schumacher entered the World Endurance Championship in 2024 with the Alpine Endurance Team. Now that a lot of Formula 1 seats are going to become empty before next year, many teams are currently on the lookout for potential recruits. Alpine happens to be one of the employers; the French squad has already announced that Esteban Ocon will not continue with them in 2025. Moreover, they have not renewed their contract with Pierre Gasly.

With Mick Schumacher already employed under Alpine but in a different Championship, many believe he can make a comeback to Formula 1 as a part of the French team. Seizing Championship victories in all the junior categories, such as F4, F3, and even F2, Mick can be an ideal candidate for the Enstone outfit, going up against McLaren to capture the top spot in the midfield. Additionally, Alpine Team Principal, Bruno Famin, has also confirmed that Schumacher is an option the team is considering for their next campaign in F1.

Mick might only be in his twenties, but at his age, Max Verstappen had already won his first F1 World Championship. On the other hand, Mick does not even have a regular racing seat yet. But success might find the German later on if he gets to drive for Alpine next year. Do you think Alpine would replace Esteban Ocon with Mick Schumacher? Or should they hire a multiple Grand Prix winner like Carlos Sainz? Let us know in the comments below.