In 2023, Mick Schumacher will drive to F1 rounds as a reserve driver for Mercedes and do a lot of sim work at the Brackley base. On the team’s website, Mick started keeping a diary and published the first entry.
Hello everyone and welcome to my diary! Throughout the season I will update you on how we work on the track and in the base, and I will tell you what I do in my spare time besides racing. This is my first entry.
Since I joined the team, I’ve gotten used to Mercedes very well. Everyone was open to me – from day one at Brackley base I received a warm welcome. I spent a lot of time at the base in the first months and that made a strong impression.
I first visited the base in 2014 and worked a bit on the simulator, but now I spend a lot more time on the simulator! The base is located in an ultra-modern building, which impresses with attention to detail. I am still getting used to the level of preparation accepted in the team and I am trying to absorb as much information as possible. I haven’t had time to meet many employees yet, but I like to get to know as many new colleagues as possible.
So far my main focus has been on running the simulator. Having raced in a current generation car, I know very well how to drive it. It helps me in my work and I hope I help the team. I tried to be an extra pair of eyes and a resource all year round to help develop the car.
The team responsible for the simulator was very friendly – I enjoy working with them. We have a very advanced simulator and I am constantly looking to work harder. I can’t stand on the sidelines and want to help where I can. Of course, no matter how advanced the simulator is, it won’t replace a real car, so I want to drive a W14!
I am interested in working with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. I have the chance to see two fantastic riders. I’ve already learned a lot of important things, like their approach to race weekends. I didn’t think I could learn much in my role as a reserve pilot, but I’ve learned a lot in a short time.
The rider, being on the track, usually doesn’t hear all of the engineers’ conversations, so I was very interested to know what the team discusses during the sessions. Even during the first training in Bahrain I was shocked, because I had not expected that there would be so much radio communication.
You won’t know you’re missing something until you understand it through your own example. I really appreciate working with the engineers because they really listen to me and the rider’s opinion is important to them. The emotional moment is no less important, because many of the team have worked with my father.
Although we all work hard, it is important to keep balance and tranquility. I went to the Australian stage early to surf. I can’t call myself a great surfer, but I like doing it because it’s not only fun but also helps with training. Even at home in Switzerland I surf a lot. This may sound strange, because I’m talking about a country that isn’t exactly famous for its beaches, but there’s a place to surf near my house.
Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of motor racing though, so I’m happy to be back in Brackley and to keep working. We spend a lot of time in the simulator preparing for the next race in Baku and will do our best to get more speed out of the car.
Now that I’ve finished my first diary entry, I want to address you, the fans. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome to the team and the support they gave me. It’s no secret that like any racer I would love to race, but my current role helps me grow and develop, which is great.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
