Mick Schumacher may not be on the grid this season, but he’s certainly not bereft of chances to get behind the wheel of F1 machinery.
Schumacher has been busy in the simulator for Mercedes, with his efforts credited for the team’s strong recent results, and he has also taken part in a Pirelli tyre test on behalf of the German marque.
Now he’s set for a less representative but far more poignant outing: piloting a car driven by his father, the great Michael Schumacher, at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Between now and then, though, the F1 world will be focused back on track, and there’s considerable intrigue over a looming battle between Pirelli and Bridgestone over control of F1’s tyre supply contract, which will have potentially significant implications on the sport from 2025.
Meanwhile, the FIA is investigating whether celebrity access to the grid needs to be clamped down on after an incident involving football superstar Neymar Jr has come to light.
SCHUMACHER SET FOR EMOTIONAL GOODWOOD RUN IN FATHER’S CAR
Mick Schumacher will make an emotional debut at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK behind the wheel of his father Michael’s Mercedes W02.
The W02, fielded in 2011, was Michael Schumacher’s penultimate F1 car before the seven-time champion hung up his helmet for good at the end of the following season.
It was the second car built by Mercedes after buying the Brawn GP team in 2010. It achieved a highest finish of fifth and wound up fourth in the constructors standings.
Mick, the Mercedes reserve driver this season after being ousted by Haas at the end of 2022, said he was excited to get a feel for the car.
“It’s going to be spectacular to run in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run,” he 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.”
It’s not the first time Mick has driver one of his father’s cars.
He sampled the title-winning Ferrari cars of 2002, 2003 and 2004 in recent years in his capacity as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, an affiliation that came to an end last season.
He also took the 1994 title-winning Benetton B194 on a demonstration run in Belgium to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael’s first grand prix victory.
“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,” Mick said. “I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”
Mercedes will also field the 2021 championship-winning W12 at Goodwood, while Sebastian Vettel will run his privately owned 1992 Williams and 1993 McLaren, both powered by sustainable fuel.
NEYMAR COULD FORCE FIA INTO GRID PASS RETHINK
The FIA is reportedly considering clamping down on access to the F1 grid after Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr appeared to break protocol by remaining by the side of the track during the formation lap at the Spanish Grand Prix.
TV cameras spotted the Paris Saint-Germain superstar among a group of other VIP guests standing in front of the fence as the cars accelerated past for their final sighting lap before the start of the race.
The sporting regulations require all non-essential personnel to be off the grid 10 minutes before the start of the formation lap, which is roughly as soon as the national anthem finishes.
The minutes between the opening of the pit lane and the start of the race are highly choreographed by the governing body to ensure guests — including celebrities, sponsors and the media — can get onto and off the grid without delaying the start of the race or compromising safety.
Access to the grid is tightly controlled by both the FIA and F1.
According to Autosport, evidence of VIPs on the grid as the cars moved away from their boxes has prompted the governing body to investigate whether access to the pre-race formalities needs be cracked down.
“We must take learnings from the incident at the Spanish Grand Prix,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. “The FIA has been assured by [F1 CEO] Stefano Domenicali that measures are being taken to ensure that there is no repeat of the incident.
“It is an issue not just in Formula 1 but also in Formula E and World Endurance Championship and other categories from my recent experiences, with too many people on the grid at some events.
“I have no doubt that in all cases the promoter will adhere to the FIA requirements on safety and security. It is the duty of the FIA to ensure a safe environment for all. Safety in motorsport is the federation’s main priority.”
PIRELLI WARY OF BRIDGESTONE BID FOR TYRE TENDER
Pirelli is wary of competition from Japanese tyre rival Bridgestone in the bidding process for F1’s sole tyre supplier contract.
F1’s tyre supply deal expires at the end of next season, and the FIA has opened the tender process for a new deal running from 2025 until 2027.
Pirelli has been F1’s sole tyre manufacturer since 2011 and has confirmed it has bid for an extension.
The FIA has not publicly confirmed how many bids it has received, but Bridgestone has been widely reported to be the only alternative to have engaged. The BBC has reported the Japanese company’s bid has been found to be “impressive”.
Pirelli has beat rival bids from Hankook for its last two contracts, but according to Autosport, the Italian company has found this cycle’s process to be more difficult.
“What I can tell you is that the tender document was a lot more complicated than in the past,” Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola said.
“There are many sections and many elements added compared to the last one we applied for.
“There is a big part linked to sustainability, a big part linked to our ability to supply a product with certain characteristics, and a service with certain characteristics, a number of engineers.
“We had to work quite a lot to get all the papers needed for that.”
The winning tender must be approved by the FIA on technical grounds and Formula 1 on commercial grounds.
Pirelli has developed a strong commercial partnership with F1 during its 13-year tenure, including as a title sponsor for several races.
Bridgestone supplied F1 with tyres for 14 years before Pirelli took over the contract, including six seasons as the sole supplier, in 1999, 2000 and 2007–10; six seasons in competition with Michelin, in 2001–06; and two years alongside Goodyear, in 1997–98.