‘It’s easier to follow a Mercedes than a Williams’

Tom Rawcliffe
Mick Schumacher Haas PA

Mick Schumacher Haas PA

After a couple of sessions of pre-season testing, Mick Schumacher has realised it is easier to race behind a Mercedes than Williams.

Schumacher, preparing for his first season in Formula 1 with Haas following his title success in Formula 2, has been handed just one and a half days of testing in Bahrain to get used to his new car, the VF-21.

He took to the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday morning, but only managed to put in 15 laps, but there was much more to take from Saturday’s session as he managed 88.

Testing for everybody on the grid offers the chance for drivers to get used to their new cars, but with Schumacher a rookie with limited experience of driving a Formula 1 car, he has had to quickly get to grips with how things work.

And Schumi gave an insight into the continued aero deficiencies that are holding Williams back down near the bottom of the grid.

As quoted by Auto Motor Sport, he said: “If you drive behind another car, you simply have no grip. Even if you brake ten metres earlier, you immediately have a stationary wheel.

“You have to get used to that. And then there are also differences as to which car you are behind.

“In the end, I drove after a Mercedes to see what they were doing, and I noticed that it was easier to follow them than a Williams.”

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Unfortunately for Mick, it is unlikely he will spend too much time immediately following a Mercedes car, with Haas expected again to be in a battle with Williams towards the bottom of the standings.

As a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, though, he could one day be a driver competing towards the top of the grid if he can continue the path he has set for himself.

Racing, of course, runs in the Schumacher family, with his father Michael holding the record for the joint-most Drivers’ Championship wins, and uncle Ralf won six races himself.

That love for racing has clearly been passed on to Mick, who seemingly cannot wait for the season to get under way at the end of the month.

He added: “If the first race was tomorrow, then I would be ready for it immediately. It can’t come fast enough for me.

“But I’m also looking forward to further tests. I could do up to that just keep testing it every day for the first race.”

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