Mick Schumacher Q&A: Hungarian Grand Prix

This week we head to the Hungaroring for Round 11 of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship – the location for your first win in Formula 2 in 2019. The circuit resembles that of a karting track due to the lack of straights – what’s it like to drive? 

“This track has always been very good to me, I’ve always had a very nice experience. There are great fans but also the results were not always that bad. It’s a track that I always look forward to, and it always concludes a chapter as it’s the race just before the summer break, so for everyone it’s a nice time to come together and then everybody gets to have some time off. It’s a great track – it’s a dominant qualifying track - so usually where you qualify is usually where you start and where you end the race, mainly because there’s a lack of straights but also because DRS isn’t as effective, but it’s a great track to drive. It has a nice flow to it and usually it’s quite warm which is nice.”

It’s a track that doesn’t lend itself to those on the grid battling with a lack of downforce. What’s the expectation for this weekend and realistic target for the team?

“I think the target should be, as always, just to do our best and hopefully get a good lap in qualifying. It would be amazing to have a hope of a Q2 appearance – I think that should be our aim. On the other hand, it’s a track that is very difficult, it’s very technical. Nonetheless, I think we should be optimistic and do our best – and that’s our target.” 

At the British Grand Prix, Formula 1 revealed new assets of the 2022 car to be used from next season. We’re not yet at the halfway mark of this season but what are your thoughts on the car and does this start to build excitement and hope, looking forward to 2022? 

“I’m very much looking forward to next year. I’ve worked well with the team and have also been doing a few meetings with the crew back in Italy, who are looking at the development for next year’s car and things are looking great. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do a good jump forward and I think that’s really what the team needs right now.” 

This is the last race before the traditional Formula 1 summer shutdown. Are you happy there is a break coming up for all to pause and reflect on the first half of the season or after a busy couple of months, would you prefer to keep the racing rhythm going? What do you plan to do with your time off? 

“For me personally, I would like to keep on racing as that’s where I enjoy being but on the other hand, I also think for everybody in Formula 1 – because those days are long days. It’s not a 9-5 job, they’re hard and long days that we have to endure. For everyone involved I think it’s a good thing that we get two weeks off to be able to not open laptops, not look at phones and just relax and have some time off. For sure I will do the same to be able to come back even stronger at the end of the summer break and really attack going into the triple-header of Spa, Zandvoort and Monza - straight away back into business.”