Mick Schumacher Q&A: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Round 8 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship takes Haas F1 Team to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Going from one tight street circuit to one with another very tight and twisty section, does it help preparations at all?

“Baku and Monaco are very different, so it’s a matter of getting into the groove at the location. I think Baku is going to feel big compared to Monaco, that’s for sure.”

 

There are two DRS sections and a very long main-straight – is this going to be a race where we see a lot of action like we did last season? What are your previous memories from racing in Baku?

“I would imagine to see more action and overtaking. We know that DRS this year isn’t as powerful as it used to be but I’m sure with the cars being able to follow closer, we’ll be able to arrive or stay closer to the car ahead in the last part of the race track and then maybe we won’t need that high DRS power anymore to get by into T1. We’ll just go with the flow and see how it goes. It was one of our highest finishes last season, so I hope with a more competitive car we’re able to be higher up as well and have a good race.”

Your first Azerbaijan Grand Prix ended with you finishing in P13. How do you think the VF-22 will fare and what should fans be looking out for this weekend? 

“We’ll have to see. As our car is right now, we’re in a good position for Baku. For sure, we’ll have to wait and see but it’s been good so far. Our car has been able to comply to nearly each race track we’ve gone to, so I’m just excited to go racing and have a good race.”

 

Tires have become a talking point in the paddock with lots of teams still trying to figure out ‘grip recovery’ and how to get the Pirelli 18-inch tires into the optimum window. What’s your understanding of them and how does their behavior differ compared to their predecessors?

“I guess the biggest difference is that we’re no longer as bound to tire saving as maybe last year, so this year the rear tires aren’t the most vulnerable part, it could be the front or the rear. Driving has become very different, maybe a bit more similar to how it was in 2020 in Formula 2. Obviously, it’s a very different car, very different tire but nonetheless the thermal aspect of it is a part that plays a role. Most of the time, I drive by feel and what the team tells me to do so it’s about having a mixture to understand it, but I feel like we’re in an ok window.”