Mick Schumacher, Haas, Suzuka, 2022

Schumacher crash damage “quite frustrating” for Haas – Steiner

2022 Japanese Grand Prix

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Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said it is “quite frustrating” the team had to change Mick Schumacher’s chassis again following his crash in practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Schumacher spun nose-first into a barrier at Dunlop on his way back to the pits at the end of the rain-hit session.

“It’s disappointing because we just went out to do a race start so we get data for Sunday,” Steiner told the official F1 channel, “and then on the way in from the race start Mick crashed the car, aquaplaned and crashed into the barrier and damaged the car quite heavily.”

The crash meant Schumacher was unable to take part in the second practice session as the team decided to replace his chassis as a precaution.

“The whole front end is broken,” Steiner explained. “But we have to change also the chassis because we are not sure if there is a crack in it or not and you cannot take any risk with the chassis.

“There is nothing changed in any way, except that maybe we could have gone out in FP2 for 10 minutes, but that is not important. It’s better to be 100% safe that the car is in a good shape tomorrow. So we have to change the chassis and the whole front end and the front wing and the nose.”

Haas has already changed Schumacher’s chassis twice this year following his heavy crashes in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and during the Monaco Grand Prix. Steiner admitted the damage costs are mounting for his team.

“It’s the third time now that we have potential chassis damage,” he acknowledged. “I say potential because we need to X-ray it and see if it is cracked or not. But it is quite frustrating.”

Schumacher’s car will be back on track for final practice tomorrow, Steiner confirmed.

“Tomorrow morning the car will be there. The guys will have a late evening but they will fix the car again and we have got all the parts, that is not an issue. So it will be there.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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25 comments on “Schumacher crash damage “quite frustrating” for Haas – Steiner”

  1. We’re in the budget cap era, and Mick is carving a reputation as a bit of a car breaker.

    it’s not a good combination.

    1. It’s all over for Shoemaker! Fat lady has finished her song.

  2. To be fair – I felt for him a bit when he went into the wall. He probably aquaplaned because he was going too slowly. I don’t think he’s a bad driver, but his head must be down at the minute. I bet he wasn’t looking forward to the walk back to see Guenther. Hopefully the weekend gets better for him.

    1. Emerson Ticktum
      7th October 2022, 12:48

      You don’t aqua plane by going too slowly
      In fact if anything, going too slowly would ensure the threads made sufficient contact with the ground

      1. During Sky’s FP2 commentary Jenson Button said that he thinks he aquaplaned because he was going too slowly & i’d think a former world champion who was always very good in the wet should know what he’s on about.

        One of the biggest complaints drivers have always had with the Pirelli full wet tire is how little grip they offer when outside of the small operating window they have. I think I remember Alonso (Or maybe Vettel) saying some years ago that if they are too cold then the tread blocks aren’t as flexible which means that they not only don’t produce much grip but also are more prone to getting overwhelmed by standing water.

        1. While he wasn’t bad, button wasn’t actually a rainmaster, he was however good at predicting when to change tyres in mixed conditions, that’s when he got some advantage and some wins.

    2. 230km/h
      Fastest speed for Mick at fp1

      1. And the others? You give nothing to compare to.

  3. TBH, he’s not that fast and he’s crash-prove. The number of cars Mick has destroyed since last year is probably unmatched across the field. But since he’s a Schumacher he doesn’t get the same treatment as say Latifi.

    I can’t feel but it’s over for Mick

    1. petebaldwin (@)
      7th October 2022, 13:50

      Neither would be anywhere top level motorsport if it wasn’t for their dads. They’ve both been given insane opportunities to get to the level they’re at throughout the whole of their junior careers and unfortunately, they’re just not good enough. People get fixated on pay drivers but ultimately, it’s anyone who is in F1 for reasons other than their talent who should be in the spotlight.

    2. He being bad doesn’t make Latifi look any better, man.

    3. He’s an F2 champion.

  4. On F1TV Guenther didn’t sound very happy.

    1. When does he

      1. The time he gave mazepin a present

  5. I think poor Mick has done this once too often now. He was on shaky ground anyway. I have a feeling it’s going to be Giovinazzi or Ricciardo to Haas in 2023.

    1. @phil-f1-21 It really would be a step down for Dani Ric and a bitter pill to swallow. I’m not even sure if he brings any sponsorship with him. If I was advising I’d be looking at a year out of the sport, but of course everyone forgets very quickly and he could be done and dusted. He’s in a tough spot – I’m not even sure Haas would want him, alongside Kmag they presumably need someone with cash. Danny obviously has that, but it’s his own, and I doubt he wants to spend it on a seat at Haas.

      1. “and a bitter pill to swallow” Handle it like in “The Sound of Music”, e.g., with a spoonful of sugar.

        1. Mary Poppins, old chap.

      2. I agree it would but I too have reservations about him taking a year-out. It might work out perhaps if he could get a place as a reserve driver for someone like Alpine but if he leaves completely he risks being overlooked in favour of someone younger or more eager. I think Haas might be his best option. I believe Steiner has said he might consider Daniel for a drive at some point in the last few months, if they needed a replacement.

  6. I wouldn’t retain Schumacher unless he brings a lot of money and pays his crash bills. He is nothing special.

    I’d be interested how Shwartzman performs in F1. If he has a few millions worth of sponsors he may have a chance. He was a huge talent but faded in his senond F2 year. Yet the talent should be there. He seemed much better than Schumacher in their first F2 seasons.

  7. It’s the year 1991. Bertrand Cachot news are caching everyone who follows the sport and a few others as well. There is a rumor that one particular german driver who has been doing quite ok in F3000 and in other series as well. Eddie decides to call this young bloke and he gets his F1 debut De Cesaris. Instead of going faster than his teammate Mick just avoids prequalifying and starts the race just ahead of Mika’s Lotus. At the race his car doesn’t brake after a few laps but Mick doesn’t show any sign of special speed. He actually finishes one place higher than his teammate whose car brakes down 3 laps before chequered flag. As his race wasn’t particulary special Flavio doesn’t want him and he finishes the season with Jordan without any points. 1992 he stays with Jordan and after a season and a half with the team starts to perform a little better. He manages to get 1 point in that season but it isn’t enough to keep him with the team. Luckily for Mick there is a few seats available. Larrousse, Footwork and Minardi are interested in him. He signs for Minardi and despite the early promise he showed in junior categories he spends 2 years with them moves to Footwork for one season signs for Arrows and after the team goes bankrupt ends his career with 11 points.

    He got a lot of seasons in F1 but didn’t ultimately have the talent and the speed to move forward.
    I don’t know which is better. Getting a lot of points just by finishing in the top 10 for 2 seasons or race almost a decade and getting 1-3 points per season just because there are enough teams to compete in the top level but not to be able to challenge for wins.

    1. I missed so many words there…

  8. If his name was Mick Lavaggi or (too soon?) Mick Latifi, would you keep him?

    1. Considering Latifi is in his 3rd season I would say yeah probably.

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