Ferrari announce official split with Mick Schumacher after four years

Thomas Maher 15 Dec 2022 10:50 AM

Mick Schumacher testing for Ferrari. Italy January 2021

Mick Schumacher’s motorsport career will continue without Ferrari’s backing, with the Scuderia releasing the German from their Academy.

Having recently lost his Formula 1 drive, with Ferrari customer team Haas opting against the young German for 2023, Mick Schumacher will have to forge a new path without Ferrari’s backing for next season.

Schumacher, son of Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher, was signed to Ferrari’s Driver Academy in 2019, but the Scuderia have confirmed their support for Mick will conclude at the end of 2022.

A press release from Ferrari said the decision to part ways was “mutual”, with their collaboration ending after four seasons of association.

Racing as an FDA driver, Schumacher competed for two seasons in Formula 2 with the Prema team, winning three races en route to the 2020 title.

This was enough to secure a seat with Haas for 2021. But, with the American team’s ’21 car proving less than competitive, it took until midway through 2022 for Schumacher to score his first points as he finished in sixth at the Austrian Grand Prix and eighth at the British Grand Prix.

Schumacher also held the role of Ferrari reserve driver for 2022, and appeared in red on several occasions as he took part in some testing, as well as appearances in historic machinery – such as his father’s record-breaking F2004. Having driven the car at Hockenheim in 2019, Schumacher was part of Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix weekend as he drove the F2004 around Mugello.

“Scuderia Ferrari thanks Mick for these four years and the many kilometres covered together, and wishes him all the best for the future,” concluded Ferrari’s statement.

Having been dropped from Haas, Schumacher made his disappointment clear – the German driver had been facing an uphill challenge to retain his seat after team boss Guenther Steiner had made his displeasure clear about costly crashes earlier in the season.

Replaced by the experienced Nico Hulkenberg for 2023, Schumacher is currently without any confirmed plans for 2023. There are no free seats left in Formula 1, while he has ruled out any possibility of a switch to German racing series DTM. Schumacher has earned the praises of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, which raises the possibility of a potential switch to the Brackley team in the guise of a reserve or test role.

Regardless of what may happen, Schumacher still believes he has the talent to become a top driver in Formula 1 and, after Abu Dhabi, said: “I don’t know yet what next year will bring but I know I’ll work harder than ever to come back stronger and be the best version of myself.”

Minutes after Ferrari announced the split, Mercedes unveiled Mick Schumacher as their new reserve driver for the F1 2023 season.