‘Disappointed’: Mick Schumacher fired by Haas, Nico Hulkenberg signs

Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael, has been left out in the cold in another sign of how brutal F1 is.

Mick Schumacher has been sacked and replaced. Photo: Getty Images

Mick Schumacher's F1 career is at a real crossroads after he was dumped by cellar-dwellers Haas.

Schumacher was brought in alongside Nikita Mazepin before the 2021 season after taking out the F2 championship.

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But two seasons later, both men have been sensationally dumped by the American owned team.

Initially brought in to bring in sponsorship dollars with arguably the biggest name ever to grace F1, Schumacher’s performances have left a lot to be desired, sitting 16th in the championship on 12 points.

He scored his first points with an eighth at Silverstone, followed by sixth in Austria.

But since then he hasn’t scored any points and has had costly crashes.

Schumacher’s teammate Kevin Magnussen has scored 25 points this season and impressed with his performances.

And Haas have already replaced the young gun, revealing Nico Hulkenberg would return to Formula One in Schumacher’s seat.

“I would like to thank Mick Schumacher for his contribution to the team over the past couple of years,” Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner said.

“Mick’s pedigree in the junior categories was well known and he has continued to grow and develop as a driver in his time with Haas F1 Team – culminating in his first Formula 1 points-scoring successes earlier this season.

“While choosing to go in separate directions for the future, the entire team wishes Mick well for the next steps in his career path and beyond.”

Mick Schumacher is out of a job. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Half an hour later, Haas revealed Hulkenberg would return to the sport.

“I’m naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico Hulkenberg back to a full-time racing role in Formula 1,” Steiner said.

“The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see – with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 – and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer.

“These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin Magnussen’s experience, gives us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid.

“That’s obviously the goal and it was that ambition that has prompted Nico’s return to Formula 1 – he shares our vision and can be a key player, together with the rest of the team, in building on the foundations we’ve laid this year with our return to the points battle.”

Hulkenberg said he “never really left Formula 1.”

He will begin work on Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Schumacher responded on social media, saying he felt he still had a career in F1.

“This is going to be my last race with Haas F1 Team. I don’t want to hide the fact that I am very disappointed about the decision not to renew our contract,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, I would like to thank both Haas F1 and Ferrari for giving me this opportunity. Those years together have helped me to mature both technically and personally. And especially when things got difficult, I realised how much I love this sport.

“It was at times bumpy but I steadily improved, learned a lot and now know for sure that I deserve a place in Formula 1. The subject is anything but closed for me. Setbacks only make you stronger.

“My fire burns for Formula 1 and I will fight hard to return to the starting grid.”

Schumacher has been stuck behind Kevin Magnussen. Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP

The belief is Schumacher is strongly considered for the Mercedes back up driver role, however it could depend on what Daniel Ricciardo decides as he has been considered for both the Mercedes and Red Bull roles.

Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt said if Ricciardo turns his back on Mercedes, Schumacher would be Mercedes’ “first choice”.

“For Schumacher, a reserve driver contract with a team that’s third in the World Championship would not be a step backwards but sideways,” he believes. “He may learn more there than with a small team in racing.

“And he would also be the reserve driver for most of the Mercedes customer teams. Only Aston Martin have a reserve driver from their own ranks in 2023.

“The example of Nyck de Vries shows that with so many options, it can quickly become a racing seat again.”