Schumacher: After Monza I am preparing for Singapore

Haas driver Mick Schumacher believes the Monza circuit is not suitable for the VF-22, so he is preparing for a difficult weekend of the Italian Grand Prix.

Q: Will the team somehow adjust the approach to work over the weekend at Monza, given the high-speed nature of the track?
Mick Schumacher: We are waiting for a difficult weekend. On the one hand, there are tracks on the calendar where our VF-22 isn’t as competitive as we’d like, but there are still far fewer that suit our car.

Q: How would you compare historic tracks like Spa, Zandvoort and Monza to new ones?
Mick Schumacher: Historic tracks have a lot of character compared to new ones that are very flat with wide safety zones. The old pistes are different from the new ones, but Spa, Zandvoort and Monza were also new once, so it’s a matter of habit.

There are old-school circuits on the calendar, but we are gradually getting used to circuits with wide safety zones.

Q: How are you spending the two weeks before the race in Singapore?
Mick Schumacher: I have a few days off, but the schedule is still tight. Next weekend I’m going to the AMB show to represent Haas Automation and also work on the simulator.

In a week Kevin and I are going to the opening of the Home Deluxe Arena in Paderborn, Germany. I came to Formula 1 during Covid-19, so now I’m happy to work with partners at sponsored events outside the track.

In addition, I will prepare for Singapore, one of the most difficult races of the season due to the high humidity and temperature. Plus, the track is bumpy — and we’ll feel it behind the wheel of stiffer new cars. We have left the hydraulic suspension and switched to a mechanical one, which greatly influences the behavior of the car on the track. Hence the build-up problems some teams have.