Mick: Haas have ‘high expectations’ for 2022

Jon Wilde 03 Oct 2021 8:00 PM

Mick Schumacher ahead of a Red Bull in Russian GP practice. Sochi September 2021.

Mick Schumacher's Haas ahead of a Red Bull during the Russian Grand Prix weekend. Sochi September 2021.

Mick Schumacher has confirmed Haas have “high expectations” for 2022 with their new car, on which he thinks the team gained a head start.

Haas are playing catch-up after a 2021 campaign they effectively wrote off by not upgrading their car through the year, instead putting all of their development focus into what they can achieve under the new F1 regulations.

This term, the American-owned team will struggle to avoid finishing without a point. But next season, with the complete reset, the aim is to put themselves back into the midfield having reached a peak of fifth in the Constructors’ standings in their third year, 2018.

Schumacher will remain alongside Nikita Mazepin in the team’s driver line-up for a second consecutive season.

“We were building something this year, which obviously is great that we carry that through for next year,” said the German on the In the Fast Lane podcast.

“We have high expectations of next year’s campaign and next year’s car and things are looking good.

“We started quite early, I think a bit earlier than everyone else. Obviously we had the opportunity to then fully focus on that without having to really think about what we do with this year’s car, because we just kept it as it was.

“So hopefully, it will be a big step forward. I feel comfy in the team, I feel good with the team and happy to be able to again work with everyone next year.”

Mick Schumacher smiling grid. Hungary August 2021

Mick Schumacher standing on the grid smiling ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hungary August 2021

Check out the Haas collection via the official Formula 1 store

Unlike other drivers who have stepped up from lesser categories to F1, in his case as Formula 2 champion, Schumacher has had to deal with knowing he would be competing at the back of the field throughout his debut season.

“I think it’s very rare that people come into Formula 1 and straight away drive at the front. The only one I can think of right now is, for example, Lewis [Hamilton] or my dad,” said the son of Michael Schumacher.

“Back then, times were a bit different than now. But I think if you’re conscious about what is happening, and conscious that this is reality, then it’s easy to adapt to it.

“I think it’s about setting yourself goals which are achievable. If you achieve those goals, then obviously you get a big kick of motivation and you’re ready to bring on the next race and just try to move forwards.

“We had, early on, the feeling we want to reach Q2, we wanted to be in the points, we wanted to be able to fight with Williams and Alfa Romeo.

“I think we kind of managed to do most of it already. We fought with Williams at Portimao, we overtook [Nicholas] Latifi on track there. In Barcelona, for example, we had a very good qualifying where we outqualified an Alfa and the Williams.

“Or, for example, we reached Q2 at Paul Ricard. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drive it [after crashing out at the end of Q1] but we still reached it, so that counts.

“Those are the little things where it’s really motivating. It keeps me busy and keeps me basically on my toes to keep trying to always improve and do my best.”