Schumacher Jr ‘very similar’ to Michael, say Ferrari staff at Haas
Former Ferrari staff members working at Haas have already noted that Mick Schumacher is “very similar” to his father, Michael, according to team boss Gunther Steiner.

Schumacher Jr will make his F1 debut this weekend with Haas in the Bahrain Grand Prix, almost 30 years since Michael Schumacher began his glittering career at Spa in 1991.
The status of his father within F1’s history has led to great scrutiny of Schumacher throughout his junior career, as well as significant interest and support from Ferrari, the team with which Michael won five of his seven world titles.
Although Steiner never worked with the seven-time world champion, he said that Ferrari staff who did that are now at Haas have already commented on his son’s similarities.
“I've never worked with [Michael] and I didn't know him that well, so I only know from the press and from TV that he was a hard worker,” Steiner told Autosport.
“We have a few people from Ferrari with us who have already worked with Michael, and they tell me what was it like. They knew Michael very well.
“They were very emotional when Mick came to us. They explain to me how Michael worked, and I think Mick is very similar.
“He works hard, he wants to know everything, he wants to learn, he just wants to get better - every day, every hour, every minute.”

Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Schumacher moves up to Haas after winning the Formula 2 title last year, and becomes the latest son of a world champion to make the step up to F1.
But the team is braced for Schumacher to have a tough rookie year after opting against significantly developing its VF-21 car, placing greater focus on the new regulations in 2022.
Steiner said the goal for Schumacher was “to learn as much as possible” through 2021 in order to be prepared for next season, warning the young driver’s fans not to expect big results this year.
Read Also:
“This year Mick won't have any great results, because he doesn't have the material for it,” Steiner said.
“But the big result for Mick will be that he learns as much as he can and is ready when our car gets better, when his future starts.
“He's not just here for two years, which is usually in Formula 2 or Formula 3. He's here for a long career. The first year in Formula 1 is always difficult when you get there, to be there right away and to be competitive. The material plays a huge role here.
“Knowing what kind of material [we have] this year – I don't want to downplay it now – but we made a decision that we're not going to develop this year in order to fully focus on next year.
“That's why we can't expect Mick to be P1 or P2 after the first qualifying session.”
Related video

Previous article
Grosjean to retain Haas ties through F1 Esports team
Next article
Ferrari partners with Iron Dames for Girls On Track winners

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Michael Schumacher , Mick Schumacher |
Teams | Haas F1 Team |
Author | Luke Smith |
Schumacher Jr ‘very similar’ to Michael, say Ferrari staff at Haas
Trending
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak