Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher will be driving Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes W02 next month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Mick Schumacher will pilot his father’s Mercedes W02 race car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month
At the moment, the 24-year-old is Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s backup driver at Mercedes. This comes after being let go by Haas last season as later the Mercedes Formula 1 team took him and he has been working behind the scenes with the manufacturer.
Now he will be the center of attention during the Goodwood Festival, which runs from July 14 to July 16. Schumacher will take the wheel of the Mercedes W02 that his father, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg raced in the 2011 season on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s going to be spectacular to run in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run,” Schumacher said.
“Just experiencing this generation of cars will be mega! Knowing that he raced this car makes it extra special, and there will be many emotions coming with it.
“I have been lucky enough to drive one of his Benetton cars and some of the Ferraris he raced, but this will be the first time behind the wheel of a Mercedes he drove.
“I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”
Michael Schumacher has been taken care of by his family and a group of medical professionals after he was discharged from the hospital following a skiing accident in December 2013. The family is adamant about maintaining his privacy therefore specifics about his health condition are being kept in privacy.
Mercedes will additionally bring its W12 car which was driven by Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton in 2021to the event. Esteban Gutierrez will be driving the car in West Sussex at Goodwood.
After two years at Haas and settling into a reserve position this season, Mick Schumacher will be thrilled to taste the rush of racing. Although he has been acknowledged for making some valuable contributions to the Silver Arrows, he is unlikely to be securing a driving seat with the team any time soon.
“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.”
Mercedes currently ranks in the second spot among F1 constructors, far behind leader Red Bull, who are currently leading thanks to Max Verstappen. Verstappen has won six of the eight races for Red Bull this season as his teammate Sergio Perez winning the other two.
