Haas wary of managing spotlight on Schumacher

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner says the squad is wary it needs to ensure Mick Schumacher “focuses on racing” rather than become distracted by external attention.

Ferrari-backed Schumacher will step up to Formula 1 with Haas on a multi-year deal, having previously taken titles in European Formula 3 and Formula 2.

Schumacher, 21, is the son of seven-time World Champion Michael, leading to wider interest in his presence within the championship.

Speaking last month, Steiner said: “I think we just need to manage his efforts, where they are best applied, [where] his focus needs to be, especially on the beginning, on racing, not on doing public things, as that will define his future.

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“We will put his effort on that he focuses on racing, on getting better in the car, on learning how to be in F1.

“It will be a difficult task because everybody will want a piece of him but he is used to that, I would say, and the people surrounding him are used to that so they will help us, but for sure we have got our work cut out.”

Schumacher downplayed any concerns that the potential extra attention could affect his performances.

“I guess it’s something that has always been with me and I got used to it, I didn’t really have to specifically work on it,” he said.

“One thing that is important is having a family that is open and true to me. If you have friends that tell you how it is, and have facts, you will stay grounded and you’ll be able to see things in a different perspective than if you were trying to do this alone.

“I’ve had the luck [and am] lucky to have such a great bunch of people around me.”