Ferrari made the wrong choice in letting Mick Schumacher leave for Mercedes in 2023, according to Luca di Montezemolo in an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport. According to the former Ferrari president, the Maranello-based formation has indirectly made a key competitor stronger.

In late 2022, it was announced that the Ferrari Driver Academy had parted ways with Schumacher. He left for Mercedes to take up the role of reserve driver. Di Montezemolo does not really understand why Schumacher could not fill that role at Ferrari.

"I was disappointed because Ferrari did not take him as third driver, he would have been perfect. He is a very serious guy," he says. Currently, Robert Shwartzman is Ferrari's test and reserve driver. The Italian team says it is satisfied with the performance of the Israeli Russian - second in the Formula 2 championship in 2021 - but Schumacher would have been a better choice in Di Montezemolo's view.

Mercedes happy with Schumacher

Schumacher attended all Grands Prix last season for Mercedes. Often, the 24-year-old German was in the simulator overnight from Friday to Saturday to further improve the performance of the W14. Wolff repeatedly stated last season that Schumacher's contributions during the weekends - and beyond - played a major role in the development of the Mercedes car.

Next season, that will be slightly different. Indeed, Schumacher will then also work with Alpine to complete the WEC programme in the hypercar. Schumacher will remain active for Mercedes, but much of his will go on long-distance racing.