Mercedes post update as Mick Schumacher prepares for emotional tribute run

Oliver Harden 29 Jun 2023 2:49 PM

Mick Schumacher Mercedes seat fitting. Photo courtesy of Mercedes

Mercedes have posted images of Mick Schumacher’s seat fit ahead of his Goodwood Festival of Speed run in his father Michael Schumacher’s 2011 F1 car.

Last week it wasannounced that Schumacher will appearat the annual event – due to take place on the weekend of July 14-16 – behind the wheel of the Mercedes W02 car in which his father Michael competed in the second season of his three-year F1 comeback in 2011.

As preparations continue ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix – a race his father won on two separate occasions in 2002 and 2003 – Mercedes have posted a series of images to social media of Schumacher getting comfortable in the 12-year-old car in advance of his tribute run.

Mick expecting ‘many emotions’ during Michael Schumacher tribute run

Schumacher appeared behind the wheel of the W02 in 19 races over the course of 2011, recording a best finish of fourth in the rain-affected Canadian GP.

Upon the confirmation of his appearance at Goodwood, Schumacher – who has driven a number of his father’s historic F1 cars in recent years, but not until now a Mercedes – said: “It’s going to be spectacular to run in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run. Just experiencing this generation of cars will be mega!

A Schumacher back in a Silver Arrow. ❤️pic.twitter.com/uMsgKUDGlZ

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1)June 29, 2023

“Knowing that he raced this car makes it extra special, and there will be many emotions coming with it. I have been lucky enough to drive one of his Benetton cars and some of the Ferraris he raced, but this will be the first time behind the wheel of a Mercedes he drove.

“I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”

失去了他的比赛席位和哈斯在the end of last season, Schumacher is spending this year as Mercedes’ official reserve driver and was widely credited for his instrumental role in the team’s turnaround at the recent Spanish Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton had expressed concern that he could struggle to reach Q3 after Friday practice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but Schumacher’s work overnight at Mercedes’ factory in Brackley was said to have transformed the team’s prospects for the weekend.

Hamilton and team-mate George Russell went on to secure the team’s first double podium finish of the season, with the latter recovering to third from 12th on the grid.

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Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recently insisted he would not hesitate to field Schumacher in a race if either Hamilton or Russell were unavailable for whatever reason, but said his priority is to orchestrate a full-time return for the 24-year-old.

Per Motorsport.com, he said: “I very much respect our contracts within the team, and whenever you have to take a reserve driver, you have to take a reserve driver.

“我认为孩子是错过。说实话,我这nk [Schumacher] was burned last year. You need to provide an environment and framework that is different for every driver and different human beings. And I think whoever gets him will have a very good talent.

“It is great to have a mature, successful and experienced F1 driver supporting us in the sim.

“With his feedback, that is of tremendous advantage. At some European grands prix, having him in the sim overnight and providing data for the Saturday is a super advantage for us.

“On the other side if George or Lewis were to have food poisoning, then we know we have a super guy that will drive the car well.

“And, as much as I like the situation for the benefit of the team, I would every day of the week prefer that Mick sits in a cockpit and actually races.”