Ralf Schumacher has blasted the Haas Formula 1 team for the strategy the squad put Mick Schumacher on at the Japanese Grand Prix. When the race finally resumed at Suzuka following a two-hour delay due to heavy rain, every driver was on the full wet tyre, as the FIA mandated. However, the field quickly dived for the pits and the Intermediate rubber, while Haas elected to keep Schumacher – in his first Japanese GP – out on track. He cycled to the lead of the race for around one second when Fernando Alonso pitted and before Max Verstappen passed him down the pit-straight. Schumacher then fell back through the pack, and eventually came home last, though was promoted to P17 after Pierre Gasly's penalty. In his column for Sky Sports F1 Germany , Ralf was not best happy with the strategy from the team.
Ralf Schumacher on Mick's strategy
With not much to lose and plenty to gain, the tactic was certainly something worth trying for Haas and Schumacher, whose F1 future beyond 2022 is not certain, with Nico Hulkenberg a contender to replace him as Kevin Magnussen's teammate. Despite the potential glory, the strategy did not impress six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf. "A questionable tactic by the Haas team deprived Mick of a better place as he was running well," he wrote. "Still, I think Haas is a team that's slowly moving in the right direction. "It is uncertain how much budget will be available in the next season, and what the engine will be like. "I believe both sides [Haas and Mick] have a future and should take advantage of what they have earned. "The improvement [throughout the weekend after his FP1 shunt] was particularly noticeable from Mick's side [including out-qualifying Magnussen on his first Suzuka visit]. "Nevertheless, Haas has to question themselves, because such mistakes [as the strategy] must not happen again. We see that at Ferrari too. "Not every person is as good as at Red Bull."
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