Mick Schumacher Q&A: British Grand Prix

Round 10 takes many of the Haas F1 Team home for the British Grand Prix, held around the historic Silverstone circuit. It’s an event steeped in history, so what does it feel like for you to return to what many fondly refer to as the home of motorsport? 

“It’s great for the team as it also marks the week where all their families come to visit which is something I’m looking forward to as we didn’t get the chance last year because of COVID. I will get to meet every single family which is going to be nice. Silverstone has some good and bad memories for me but it always treated me well so I’m excited to go there and it marks the start of all the European races that are coming, which is nice as it means we all have a bit more time without so many flyaways.”

 

With it being one of Haas F1 team’s many ‘home races’, it brings about a lot more activities - including partner commitments, filming days and the return to the team’s annual ‘family day’ – the first since COVID. With all of these extras, does the British Grand Prix feel different to other races, and what’s it like to meet the families of those who you get to work so closely with over the season?

“I don’t think it will feel like a different type of race weekend but it means it’s a different set-up to a race weekend. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re racing or the approach that I take, but it means that I get to meet some great people and their families so I’m looking forward to it.”

Take us through a lap of the Silverstone circuit and can you predict how these new Formula 1 cars will behave around high-speed corners like Maggotts, Becketts and Abbey?

“These new cars are known for getting an increase in downforce, the quicker they go so that means usually that the quicker corners should behave a bit differently compared to last year. Therefore, that section with Maggotts and Becketts I’m sure will be quite fascinating to drive in these new cars. If it will be quicker, I don’t know just because of the added weight of these cars, but nonetheless I’m sure it’s going to be fun and the bouncing and porpoising won’t be as effective as in Baku.”

 

The British Grand Prix kicks off a run of four races in the month of July – how hard is that going to be on drivers and team personnel, and do you have one eye on the summer shutdown at this stage of the season?

“It will definitely be very tough. We know anyway how tough a race weekend is and that just means we’re going to have a lot of them. For the team and everybody it’s consuming, so it’s a matter of putting in those moments of extra effort when necessary but also shut off if that helps so you don’t run out of energy, because it’s a long season to go. Also in July we have some other cool events lined-up including the SVAG CS Classic reigning show at my family’s ranch in Givrins.”