Mick Schumacher completes test with Mercedes customers at Portimao

Henry Valantine 05 Jul 2023 9:00 PM

Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher in the garage at the Spanish Grand Prix. Barcelona, June 2023.

Mick Schumacher has completed a day of testing with McLaren at Portimao as part of their Testing of Previous Cars [TPC] programme.

Schumacher, officially Mercedes’ reserve driver, is also reserve for McLaren with the team being a Mercedes customer, and he took in a full day behind the wheel in the Algarve in the 2021 McLaren MCL35M.

McLaren confirmed the news on Wednesday, with this being Schumacher’s second Formula 1 test of the year after a full day of tyre testing for Mercedes in Barcelona after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Mick Schumacher tests for McLaren with staff training in mind

McLaren shared the news of Schumacher’s test with them in their 2021 challenger, with IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou having also tested for the team already this year.

The private test at the Algarve International Circuit was partly instigated by McLaren to enable some of their less experienced members of staff to gain time at a live track, writing on social media: “Joining Mick are some of our mechanic and engineering apprentices and interns, gaining valuable experience working in a trackside environment.”

PlanetF1.com recommends

Mercedes explain bizarre detail behind Lewis Hamilton track limits penalties

Fastest F1 pit stops: McLaren clock second-fastest stop of 2023 so far in Austria

“Day is done here in Portimao, first test with McLaren was great,” Schumacher said after his day of running.

“We did so many laps out there and a fair few sets [of tyres] as well, so it’s been really good to get that experience with the team.

Mick's with us today!@SchumacherMick, who is our reserve F1 driver, is testing our 2021 MCL35M with the team in Portimão.

Joining Mick are some of our mechanic and engineering apprentices and interns, gaining valuable experience working in a trackside environment.pic.twitter.com/40SMUziUdm

— McLaren (@McLarenF1)July 5, 2023

“They’re a great team, a great bunch of people, and I’m super excited to hopefully get back out there soon.”

Former Haas driver Schumacher is still assessing his options for a potential return to the grid in 2024, after being dropped by his former team in favour of Nico Hulkenberg for this season.

He will be driving father Michael’s Mercedes W02 from the 2011 season at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later in July as he gets another run-out in a Formula 1 car.