Mick Schumacher details fascinating relationship with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Mercedes

Mick Schumacher has detailed the ‘special’ relationship he has enjoyed with Mercedes since joining the team in December.

Since parting ways with Haas last year, Schumacher joined Mercedes and has served as a backup driver to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

In a diary entry on the Mercedes AMG website, Schumacher revealed that working in reserve to the British duo has provided him valuable experience.

‘It’s been fascinating working with Lewis and George. It’s an interesting period for me as I get to look over and work with two fantastic drivers, which you don’t always get to do.

‘I’ve learned a lot about what’s important in terms of approaching race weekends; I feel like I’ve already gained so much knowledge to add to my skill set. I didn’t think I would have learned and gained so much so early into my role.’

24-year-old hailed Lewis Hamilton and George Russell calling the British pair ‘fantastic drivers’

Before joining the team Schumacher faced criticism from Haas team principal Guenther Steiner

The 24-year-old added that serving as a backup has allowed him to develop a greater understanding of the work that goes on inside the paddock on race day. 

‘As a driver, you usually do not get to hear what is going on between all the engineers while you are out on the track, so listening in during the sessions has been extremely interesting. I was quite shocked at the season opener in Bahrain, I did not expect the sheer amount of exchange that happens.’

Joining Mercedes also came included a significant personal element for the 2020 Formula 2 Drivers’ Champion.

After returning from a four-year retirement from the sport, Mick’s father Michael Schumacher spent two years with Mercedes before finally calling time on his legendary career in 2012.

The younger Schumacher went on to explain that getting the opportunity to work alongside engineers that had previously been colleagues with his father has made the move even more fulfilling.

‘You don’t know what you’re missing until you are actually part of it.

Schumacher also wrote about one of his primary responsibilities at Mercedes, continuing to hone his skills on the driving simulator should his services be required by the team.

‘My main focus up to now has been working in the simulator. Because I have raced a car under this new set of regulations, I have a good understanding of how to drive them. 

Schumacher also expressed the significance of working alongside engineers at Mercedes who were once colleagues with his legendary father

Michael Schumacher spent two years at Mercedes before calling time on his career in 2012

‘That has helped me in my role so far and hopefully added value for the Team. I will look to be an extra pair of eyes and resource to help with the development programme across the year.

The simulator team have been super kind to me and great to work with. It’s impressive to drive the sim because it’s just so advanced, and I have been pushing to do more. 

‘It’s not enough for me to just sit on the side-lines, I want to be helpful wherever I can. Of course, it’s not the real thing and I would love to be driving the W14!’

‘What I really appreciate in working with those engineers is that they are genuinely listening to you and your opinion matters, and what is special from an emotional side is that many people who are working for the team now were working here when my dad was driving.’ 

After making his F1 debut with Haas in 2021, Schumacher would spend two seasons under team principal Guenther Steiner but struggled to make an impact finishing within the points just twice before being dropped in December.

Steiner would go on to savage the young driver following his departure, repeatedly criticising Schumacher’s driving and detailing the costs of his crashes in his autobiography Surviving to Drive.