Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the way Mick Schumacher handled his first Formula 1 test was “very similar” to his father’s approach at the team.
However Binotto, who worked with seven-times champion Michael Schumacher during his time at Ferrari, admitted his first impression of Mick was different.“The very first time I saw him after many years in Maranello, when he came back, if you looked at him, I don’t think he’s looking very similar to Michael,” said Binotto.
“But the way he’s behaving is very similar. And the way he approaches the exercise and the way he’s interested in the car, discussing it with the technicians.
“Even in Maranello, you are looking after him, but he’s always in the workshop looking at the car, speaking with the mechanics, and I think that’s very similar to his father.”
Mick Schumacher joined the Ferrari Driver Academy after winning the European Formula Three championship last year. He had his first run in a current-specification F1 car with the team in the two-day test which followed the Bahrain Grand Prix, but Binotto said the unusual conditions during Schumacher’s test made it hard to draw any firm conclusions about the 20-year-old’s potential.
“To assess the performance, I think it is very difficult, because first, the weather conditions were very bad on that day and because at the end I think that the objective was not really to assess the performance. It was his very first day on an F1 car, more important for him still in the learning phase, day-by-day, facing a completely new challenge in his F2 season.
“I think what was certainly positive was the way he approached the exercise, the approach to the day of testing, never pushing to the limit, trying to improve run-by-run, learning the car, learning the team, and I think in that respect he did a very good job: very well focussed, concentrated and tried to do the proper job and learn. I think that’s the most you may expect on such a day.”
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NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
12th April 2019, 11:09
“To assess the performance, I think it is very difficult, because first, the weather conditions were very bad on that day and because at the end I think that the objective was not really to assess the performance. It was his very first day on an F1 car, more important for him still in the learning phase, day-by-day, facing a completely new challenge in his F2 season.”
Well certainly his results are nothing spectacular. There is no setting the world on fire here.
pSynrg (@psynrg)
12th April 2019, 12:02
You got to feel for the kid. No greater shadow to mask the light…
Dewald Nel (@ho3n3r)
12th April 2019, 12:08
What, you mean testing results where they are running programs instead of chasing laptimes are a reason to dismiss his racing credentials?
He basically matched his Ferrari time with the Sauber. That tells you all you need to know.
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
12th April 2019, 18:00
@jureo and your assessment is based on ONE f2 weekend? Wow.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
15th April 2019, 8:47
I am a great fan of Schumacher, I follow Mick’s Carrer through F3 onwards. He is certainly good, says the right things, is fast in a fast car etc.
But when looking for something like LeClerc for example, it is not there. He is on an upwards trajectory, but I cannot see him in a Ferrari within 2 years.
F1 is full of excellent drivers, but only a few stand out. He is no Lewis Hamilton(The current benchmark). We will see how he develops.
My remark was just regarding him setting the world on fire with his brilliance. I would be hopping for something like that in F3, F2 if he was to make a huge impact in F1.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
12th April 2019, 12:35
Ok. Enough of this. Just replace Vettel already.
Aapje (@aapje)
12th April 2019, 19:16
I don’t think that these comparisons are very healthy. Let the kid be himself, rather than demand that he copy his dad.