Perhaps it was the massive pressure that came with the family name. Or it was a case of the wrong team at the wrong junction of his career. No matter how you look at it, Mick Schumacher did not live up to the expectations. The consistently disappointing results and the lack of improvement despite regular warnings made Schumacher lose his Haas seat. This coupled with the fact Schumacher was becoming an expensive driver for the team. The reserve driver role at Mercedes was a saving grace for the German. However, according to Bernie Ecclestone, he will not be able to convert this chance at Mercedes into a regular driving seat in 2024.
In fact, Ecclestone, during an interview with RTL magazine as quoted by Motorsport-Total, claimed the German should take his talents elsewhere. The former owner of Formula 1 is known for his brutally honest assessments. This time, it was Schumacher’s turn to hear Ecclestone’s brutal opinion.
“He has to forget this dream because sooner or later we all wake up from a dream,” Ecclestone said. In fact, the former boss suggested that Schumacher now must “think about what the alternative is and try to pursue it.”
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Why does the former boss think all hope is lost for the young German? Ecclestone has this strong belief towards Schumacher because he thinks the German needs more guidance.
“I think he needs someone who really wants to lead him to success and takes care of him the whole time,” he added.
In fact, even back in 2022 when Schumacher was struggling in his Haas seat, Ecclestone made a similar suggestion. Then, Ecclestone suggested Schumacher should “forget Formula 1 and win in a different category.”
Read More: F1 Mogul Bernie Ecclestone Reveals the Missing Piece in Mick Schumacher’s Struggling F1 Career
The British billionaire’s word might’ve not reached Schumacher just yet. However, we can still make an educated guess on what Schumacher’s reply would be based on their previous interaction.
Mick Schumacher gives a brutal reply to Bernie Ecclestone on his suggestion to leave Formula 1
Mick Schumacher is no stranger to criticism. In fact, the German has gathered quite a lot of criticism ever since he made his debut in the premier class. So when Ecclestone suggested he take his talents elsewhere, the German had a calm and collected reply.
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He said, “It’s hard to forget Formula 1. I love her too much So I won’t do that. Everyone always has an opinion on everything. I care about the opinions of the people I care about.”
When asked to elaborate on “people I care about,” he said, “Of course, my family. And a few other people from Formula 1. For example, Sebastian Vettel. Those are the opinions that matter to me.”
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Keeping his head down and taking every piece of criticism on the chin. That’s how Schumacher is navigating the most difficult period of his career. It will be interesting to see if he can silence his critiques before the start of the 2024 season.