Haas boss called out for ‘vile’ remark during Drive to Survive

Formula 1 fans have called out a team owner over one comment he made during Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.

Michael Schumacher fans have slammed a Netflix show for featuring a comment calling his son a “dead man walking” after the ex-F1 star’s horror ski accident.

Creators of the latest season of docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive – which drops next week – have been branded “tone deaf” over an episode focusing on Mick Schumacher, The Sun reports.

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In one clip, Gene Haas – owner of Haas F1 Team – can be heard calling the German racing driver a “dead man walking” while on the phone to team manager Guenther Steiner.

The US businessman was slating the 23-year-old’s performance in the Monaco Grand Prix in 2022 after he lost control of his car on lap 27 before the motor split in half.

But fans have called the inclusion of the comment “vile” given his dad suffered a near-fatal skiing accident.

Viewers also fumed over how the soon to be released episode is titled Like Father, Like Son.

Episode 3 - Like Father, Like Son pic.twitter.com/641Gk0ah6W

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One fan said: “The fact that Netflix titled the episode about Mick ‘Like Father, like son?’ and refer to Mick as a ‘dead man walking’ is truly disgusting and vile??

“How didn’t anyone in that meeting think that that’s maybe not the best idea.”

Another social media user commented: “That’s horrible to both Mick and Michael.”

A third wrote: “Wow that is so tone deaf and disrespectful.”

Mick’s legendary dad Michael Schumacher was put into a medically induced coma for six months after suffering a catastrophic brain injury in December 2013.

He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps while skiing with son Mick – who was 14 at the time.

Schumacher, who had 91 Grand Prix wins, suffered a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet.

Schumacher sustained the injury in 2013. AFP PHOTO

Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.

The ex-F1 champ has not been seen or heard from since his accident.

It comes after Mick paid a touching tribute to his father at Mercedes’ car launch.

The F1 team unveiled the new-look car for the 2023 season on Wednesday.

And Mick paid tribute to his dad by wearing the same helmet as the seven-time champion.

The gold helmet was adorned with black stars on the top and has a Mercedes logo in the middle.

Schumacher drove for Mercedes at the end of his career between 2010-2012.

And now his son is part of the team, signing up as the third driver following his exit from Haas.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Haas boss called out for ‘vile’ remark during Drive to Survive