F1 News: Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner Insults Schumacher Family - "Difficult To Deal With"
It's no secret that the name Schumacher is synonymous with Formula 1. Michael Schumacher's success story in the sport has made his name legendary. His son, Mick, who made his debut in 2021, has a lot to live up to, and it's not an easy feat.
While Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has been less than complimentary about Mick, Mercedes has embraced the junior Schumacher with open arms. The team has offered him a chance to prove himself and to continue his father's legacy.
Steiner has been criticised for the harsh treatment they gave to Mick. After he scored crucial points for the team, they unceremoniously ousted him. Steiner questioned Mick's upbringing and justified his decision to let him go. According to inews.co.uk, Steiner said:
“I just sat down with him [Schumacher] and explained that we needed to bring the team forward with an experienced driver. It is part of the job. It is not a nice thing to do. I don’t enjoy it but you just have to be professional about it.
“Dealing with a Schumacher is not easy, as you can imagine. He was grown up about it. He wasn’t happy. I would say he saw the writing on the wall. He is a clever kid. He had two years. We didn’t get where we wanted to and I had to make some changes. You cannot beat up a dead horse.”
However, Toto Wolff, Mercedes CEO and team chief, has taken a different approach. He has praised Mick's upbringing and his achievements in junior Formula classes. Wolff doesn't want to compare the junior Schumacher with his father but believes that Mick has a brilliant future ahead of him.
In a recent interview, Wolff stated:
"Maybe, in a way, having a year off as a third driver can be good to reassess yourself and bring yourself in a better place and hopefully find a seat again."
Mercedes' decision to offer Mick a chance speaks volumes about the team's faith in the young driver.