Ferrari making Mick wait but ‘opportunities will come’

Mick Schumacher says he understands Ferrari’s decision to extend Carlos Sainz’s contract – and insists it changes nothing for him.

As a member of their academy, the German is expected to be next in line for a race seat with the Scuderia, which would mean emulating his father, Michael Schumacher, who enjoyed a golden era with the team when he won five of his seven Drivers’ World Championships between 2000 and 2004.

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But that prospect looks to be a fair way off, especially after Ferrari chose to add another two years to Sainz’s deal following his strong start since joining them in 2021.

Although yet to win an F1 race, the Spaniard outscored his team-mate Charles Leclerc in his first campaign with the Italian giants and has achieved two podium finishes in three attempts this term – finishing immediately behind his colleague each time.

Therefore, unless something goes amiss for Sainz or Leclerc, with the latter currently leading the World Championship by 34 points, it will be 2025 before Schumacher, who is in his second season with Haas, can have any ideas about displacing either driver.

Investigating Imola #HaasF1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/DAlBzVYYnv

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) April 21, 2022

Not that news of Sainz’s extended stay has come as any surprise to the 23-year-old former F2 champion.

“I think it was expectable in many ways,” Schumacher told Sky