Andretti has faith in Schumacher: 'He has improved tremendously'

Mario Andretti is confident that Mick Schumacher will yet return to a regular role in Formula 1. Speaking to sport.de Andretti stressed that the German's adventure has only just begun.

Schumacher made his debut in Formula 1 in 2021 after becoming champion in Formula 2 a year earlier. However, it was by no means a blistering start: Schumacher got a seat at Haas at a time when the team was in such a bad situation that it had decided to consider 2021 a lost season. The car was barely developed so all attention was on 2022. For Haas, 2021 was not about scoring points, it was about survival. Schumacher and his teammate Nikita Mazepin finished the season in the last two places and were the only drivers that year not to score a single point.

Although Haas was considerably better in 2022 than the previous season, it was still another difficult year for Schumacher. Teammate Kevin Magnussen scored twice as many points as Schumacher and the German's season was mainly marked by costly crashes and disappointing results. At the end of the year, Haas therefore decided not to renew his contract and instead brought in Nico Hülkenberg. Schumacher was subsequently appointed as a reserve driver at Mercedes.

'Schumacher's name is an asset'

Nevertheless, Andretti still sees the German returning to the track. " I'm sure someone will take him on again," Andretti explained. "Talents like that don't just go away. I think Mick improved tremendously last season. Without a doubt. It really showed in his performance."

Schumacher is the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Carrying that name will probably have put some extra pressure on Mick. But Andretti sees in him a worthy successor to his father. "The Schumacher name is an asset in every respect. No doubt he has worn it with a lot of pride."