Wolff: 'He steps into unbelievably big shoes'

Mick Schumacher will be racing for Haas F1 Team this season and his surname has undoubtedly opened doors in easier ways in his career so far. That is a blessing, but the curse that comes with it is that he will always be under a magnifying glass and that brings with it a lot of pressure. Now the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is apparently coping well with that, but of course that pressure increases once he is a real championship contender.

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In an interview with Sky Germany, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is asked about Mick Schumacher. Wolff acknowledges that the pressure on Schumacher is great and he believes the young driver should be left alone above all else. "He steps into incredibly big shoes, of course. Michael is an icon - not just in Formula 1, but outside of it. Mick doesn't always find it easy to be compared."

"On the other hand, he's a young man who knows what he wants and he's also had achievements in Formula 2 and Formula 3 in the past. Now, first and foremost, you have to leave him alone and not always compare him, but allow him his learning years at Haas and whatever comes next."

Those learning years are important for development and experience, but it seems clear in advance that Schumacher won't necessarily be able to do much this year when it comes to the championship. But that is mainly down to the Haas, which is expected to operate at an equivalent level to 2020. At the back of the field, in other words.

Real chance for Schumacher

Of course, his performance at Haas will be able to take him further. Also, it is no secret that it is very interesting for Ferrari to have the son of the great Schumacher driving their car, but for that Schumacher will have to develop first. Wolff hopes that will go well, so that Mick will get the right opportunities.

Wolff concludes: "If he develops well, he will of course get the chance to be in a really strong car in the future. I wish it for him and also his father, the family and Sabine, that one day Mick can drive for victories and for world championships."