Mick Schumacher has revealed there has already been an interest held in his services for 2024 as he targets an immediate return to Formula 1 next year.
The German driver made his F1 debut in 2021 with the Haas team, doing enough in his rookie year to subsequently earn a second season with the American outfit.
However, following a tough campaign, where he was outscored comfortably by team-mate Kevin Magnussen, Schumacher was dropped at the end of last season in favour of Nico Hulkenberg.
Without an alternative place on the grid, Schumacher was snapped up by Mercedes to become the eight-time world champion’s reserve driver for 2023, and the ex-Formula 2 champion has declared he’s already received encouragement regarding a full-time drive for next season.
“Well, there’s obviously no guarantee [that I return to the grid in 2024], but I’m in a comfortable position where I feel I can learn, [and] I can extract the maximum from this year even though I’m not driving,” Schumacher stated after the launch of Mercedes’ W14 car.
“But with the results I’ve shown in the junior categories, but also in F1, I’m sure there will be opportunities. Over the winter a few people have already mentioned that there is interest, so in that sense, I’m not too worried.”
Schumacher is unlikely to take any part in a grand prix weekend this season – as he does not qualify for the rookie FP1 rule – unless either Hamilton or Russell are unavailable
However, despite his newfound capacity in a reserve role, Schumacher has maintained he will approach grand prix weekends in exactly the same way he did when he was on the grid the last two years.
“[I’ll] still probably take a very similar approach. I will be going into the weekend thinking as if I was going to race, to keep myself sharp,” the German said.
“But also, because it is a very different year, I will try and see what I can learn from it, take away from this experience, and be as much of a help to the team as I can be.
“Partly because I have the experience of driving, but also, I have the mentality that I know how it is to approach a weekend. I will for sure keep the same approach and keep the excitement at a high.”
Having driven the new generation of ground effect F1 cars last year, Schumacher believes he is well-placed to offer Mercedes valuable feedback from the simulator as the Silver Arrows aim to return to competing for both world championships in 2023.
“Firstly, I do have the experience of driving last year’s car, which is the new generation. That means the approaches that I will have in the simulator will be very similar to the ones the racing drivers will have on track,” Schumacher argued.
“In terms of that direct comparison, I will be able to talk about time models, talk about how the car behaves or should behave and therefore will be able to change and adapt the simulator pretty quickly.
“Hopefully with that in mind, we’ll be able to give the team reliable feedback, but also a set of options that will work in the track.”
