Mick Schumacher Q&A: United States Grand Prix
October 19, 2022
We know you’re a big fan of the US and you went directly to Austin after the Japanese Grand Prix. What have you been up to and how excited are you for this weekend?
“I went to Dallas. It’s no secret that I really love going to the States for so many reasons and definitely having the ranch there is a big perk. We’ve been driving on the Can-Am’s, having fun, disconnecting a bit and spending some time with my sister and the horses. I’m definitely looking forward to the race, I’m pumped for it.”
It’s going to be a busy event for Haas F1 Team at its ‘home’ race, with lots of events, activations, and a few surprises as well. How does it feel to be racing here this season – in the fight for seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship and after achieving a milestone in your own career scoring points – compared to last season?
“We have a lot of cool things coming up this week, so I’m ready to get stuck in. This season feels like a completely different experience compared to last year. It was my rookie season so I spent a lot of time getting used to procedures and learning the car. We knew going into it that we wouldn’t be fighting for points, and it would be a challenge, but throughout it all the team maintained their professionalism and never gave up. This season it feels like there’s a buzz around the team and we’re on the up. Every person at Haas has worked so hard to get us back up there, so it’s an honor to represent the team, especially when coming to COTA.”
Last season you secured 16th on your F1 debut in Austin, what are the objectives for this weekend and where do you think you’ll be battling come Sunday?
“Austin is a track we expect to work pretty well for our car. We know that recently things have been difficult and usually we’ve been struck by an unlucky race, or weekend in general. Hopefully we’ll be able to turn it around at our home race and as we have some nice stuff coming up, that will hopefully bring us luck. I’m excited about hopefully scoring points in the States.”
It’s the Circuit of The Americas’ 10th birthday this season, with Haas F1 Team competing in five of the races. With COTA becoming the place for America’s hardcore fan base, having raced in Miami this season and with Las Vegas coming up, where do you see those races finding their niche and what qualities does each bring to the calendar?
“COTA has been a part of Formula 1 for quite some time now and it’s great to see it returning next year, as well with its companions in Miami and Las Vegas. I’m looking forward to them and to experience Las Vegas – I haven’t been there up until now. It will be interesting to see the Elvis priest and the casinos, I’m very excited about it!”