Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has told rival Formula One teams that they are missing out on the talents of Mick Schumacher after he tested for McLaren.
Schumacher is the reserve driver for the Silver Arrows behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. He was snapped up by Mercedes after being dropped by Haas, where he spent two years in the hot seat.
Haas replaced Schumacher with the more experienced Nico Hulkenberg following a series of high-profile mistakes. But Wolff is convinced that the son of legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher has the talent to make it in the sport.
"I think teams are missing out, to be honest. I think he was burned last year," Wolff said at the Canadian Grand Prix last month.
"You need to give and provide an environment and framework that is different to every driver, we are all different human beings. And whoever gets him will have a very good pilot."
Wolff might not be the only person who thinks Schumacher deserves a chance to step back into F1, with McLaren recently giving him the opportunity to show off his talents. He was put behind the wheel of the MCL35M – the car McLaren used in the 2021 season – at the Portimao track in Portugal on Wednesday.
McLaren is an engine customer of Mercedes and their agreement allows them to use reserve drivers from the manufacturer. It means that were Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri unable to perform, then McLaren could call upon Schumacher to step in and race in their absence.
It would undoubtedly be an opportunity which Schumacher would relish, given his current position behind Hamilton and Russell. Although Hamilton is yet to sign a new contract with Mercedes, the two British drivers are locked in, meaning Schumacher has little chance of stepping up in the near future.
Mercedes chief Wolff recently explained the situation for Schumacher. "It's a difficult situation because [Mercedes] is closed, and I would wish for Mick to get a seat, and he deserves it,” Wolff said. “The situation in 2024 is unfavourable, in 2025 a few doors will open again, but we have to wait and see how things develop at Williams, so it's not easy.
"We have to be careful, because if we support Mick too much, then of course there are critics who would like to make things difficult who then come crawling out of the woodwork."
Schumacher will drive the Mercedes W02 car that was raced by his father at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month. He will take centre stage at the event between July 14 and 16, taking the wheel of the Mercedes W02 – a car his dad, Michael Schumacher, drove back in the 2011 season.
