Mick Schumacher Q&A: Australian Grand Prix

The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit is a new race location for you – tell us what you know about the city and the track characteristics.

“It will be the first time for me to go and race in Melbourne, and Australia in general, so I’m quite excited. I’m looking forward to getting to know the track and getting to know the city as well. I’ve been there with my dad and have watched him race in Melbourne, that was really cool, and I’m excited to drive there myself and make my own experiences of driving in Formula 1 in Australia.”

 

Your father holds the lap record around Albert Park with a blistering time of 1:24.125 set in 2004. With the circuit being quite slippery at the start of a race weekend, and needing a car with a stable front end to really make the most of a lap, what are your predictions for how the VF-22 will fare on Australian soil? 

“I think we have a car that we can fight with and a car that is competitive, which is great. Yes, the track is like most other tracks where it needs bedding in, especially when they’re driven by road cars all year round. My dad holds the lap record in a 2004 Ferrari – I got the chance to drive that car – and it’s an amazing car. We’ll make our own laps in a similar looking car actually, the cars have turned back in time and they’re looking a bit more like they used to with the high front wing, so it will be interesting. Obviously, very different compared to 2004 but still great to drive with the VF-22.”

The time difference from Europe to Melbourne is nine hours. As an athlete, how do you acclimatize quickly and what tips do you have for the personnel, media and fans making the journey down under? 

“Acclimatizing is important. Luckily this particular race and Australia in general is a great place to go, it’s so different to everywhere else. I’m lucky enough to go there early and spend some time there.” 

 

This weekend will mark Haas F1 team’s 125th Grand Prix. As a driver who has made 23 race starts for the team to date, can you share your standout moments and detail what’s special about the team?

“I think my standout moment with the team would definitely be the Austria weekend from last year as we all went cycling, had a BBQ together, played football together and it was just a really nice time spent all together. What’s really special about this team is everybody is so friendly but also so open to embedding you into their conversations, into their lives, so to be able to get to know every single person is something quite special. It’s also turning out to be more than only working relationships, it’s something quite special and is something that I’ll hold with me for a very long time.”