Mick Schumacher was told to cease doing donuts on the track at the conclusion of his final Formula One race.
Mick Schumacher’s unsatisfying season came to an end when his Haas team was prevented from burning some rubber on the track at the conclusion of Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Knowing that he wouldn’t be competing in Formula One in 2023, the Haas driver concluded the 2022 season finale at P16, one position ahead of teammate Kevin Magnussen.
According to Haas, Schumacher won’t have a full-time driving until at least 2024, when Nico Hulkenberg will take over for him.
The young German then intended to celebrate Sebastian Vettel’s final race alongside him by doing some donuts for the crowd in his VF-22. However, Ayao Komatsu, the trackside engineering director for Haas, quickly commanded Schumacher to stop.
“Sorry, Mick, can you stop doing donuts, please? Seriously. I’m sorry, Mick, but we just can’t, sorry,” said Komatsu.
A likely dejected Schumacher replied: “It’s alright, Ayao. Love you too!”
Schumacher won’t be on the grid for the upcoming season as a result, but the 23-year-old, who is also anticipated to lose Ferrari’s backing, is being considered for a reserve position with Mercedes.
“Mick is someone who has always been close to our heart because of Michael and the whole Schumacher family,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff last weekend. “He is an intelligent, well-mannered young man, he has been very successful in the junior formulas.”
“We believe we can look after him if the situation were to happen and with someone that just fits the team but we haven’t put pen to paper and we haven’t come anywhere close to any terms.”
“I am saying that openly because I think he just fits and now we need to make it happen if he wants to and Sabine [Kehm, manager] wants to, and we see where it goes to.”
Schumacher acknowledged that he was considering joining Mercedes in 2023.
“Mercedes is an awesome brand, genuinely, what they have achieved in Formula 1 is incredible,” said the 23-year-old driver. “So you know I’m going to see my options, and Mercedes is part of that.”
“I have time now so I’ll consider all the options that I have to then hopefully make the right decision for me.”
“It’s definitely very humbling to hear what Mercedes and especially Toto says about me.”
