Schumacher disagrees with 'criticism': 'Is a deceiving impression'

Mick Schumacher is following in the footsteps of his famous father Michael Schumacher this year. It is often said about Schumacher junior that he is better from the second year onwards because he has to earn, but the German disagrees. He will also drive alongside Nikita Mazepin, the Russian who has been much discussed.

The junior from the famous family will drive for Haas F1 where he will show what he is worth in his first year at the highest level. In his career so far, those years have often not been his best, at least according to some commentators. However, the new Haas driver disagrees. In an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, he addresses this prejudice.

"I think it's hard to say that I'm a driver who can't impress in the first year and who can do anything in the second year. On paper it may look like that, but if you look closely, the impression is deceptive. Especially in Formula 2, my first year was not so bad." According to the German, the shaky start was down to something else: "We had an extremely difficult tyre in Formula 2, so it took a while."

Schumacher will have to beat Nikita Mazepin in his first year with the American team. The Russian is already infamous in Formula 1 before he has even started because of controversial statements and videos. A stark contrast to the well-mannered modest German.

During the interview, Schumacher mainly discusses the performance they both have to deliver in 2021. Two rookies who will have to help the team progress, a difficult task: "Nikita did some good races last year. So it will be very interesting to see who develops and how fast". He concludes: "Yes, we are two newcomers. But we have spent many years in the junior categories. I am sure that if we work together we can move the team forward".