Michael Schumacher's F1 flop son Mick 'better than half the current F1 drivers'

22 June 2024 , 04:00

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Mick Schumacher remains on the F1 sidelines (Image: Getty Images)

Legendary former Ferrari chief Jean Todt insists Mick Schumacher is deserving of a spot on the Formula 1 grid.

The 25-year-old spent two seasons racing for Haas but was axed at the end of the 2022 season. He joined Mercedes as their reserve driver but has yet to find an opportunity to get back into a race seat.

Instead, he has switched to endurance racing and forms part of the Alpine driver line-up in the WEC. But Todt, who worked with Schumacher's seven-time F1 champion father Michael for many years, thinks Mick's place remains in the sport that made his dad a household name.

The Frenchman told Sport Bild: "I don't know if Mick is one of the best drivers around, but he is better than half of the Formula 1 drivers. Maybe Mick is too kind, in F1 you have to stick your elbows out."

Schumacher arrived in F1 with much fanfare, partly because he had won the Formula 2 championship but mostly because of his surname. But he was unable to live up to the billing and scored points on just two occasions across the 44 races held in 2021 and 2022.

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While it would no doubt have helped with sponsors and branding, Todt believes young Schumacher's name has hampered his career at the top level. He added: "Many think [Mick's surname] is an advantage, but it has become a disadvantage.

"The expectations placed on him were unreasonable and the car was not competitive. He has never been able to show his potential. The pressure he was subjected to was unfair. And I know, because I was also team principal, that a driver's performance suffers immediately if he doesn't feel comfortable."

Jean Todt is a trusted Michael Schumacher ally and a close friend of the family (Getty Images)

Given his affiliation with Alpine in endurance racing, Schumacher has been linked with a seat at the Renault-owned brand's F1 team. There is at least one vacancy for 2025 with Esteban Ocon confirmed to be leaving at the end of this year and, while there are plenty of other candidates, team principal Bruno Famin recently admitted the German is a candidate.

He said: "I'm very happy with Mick, he's super fast. But that's not the main thing in the WEC, you have to drive at a consistently high level and have a good team spirit.

"I'm very impressed with him because he adapted his attitude to the long-distance races from day one. He has a very good relationship with his team-mates. Everything is open for 2025, everyone talks to everyone. It would be a mistake not to have Mick on the list."

Daniel Moxon