Mick Schumacher is hoping for rain at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, as he thinks that adapting this kind of mindset is key to racing well in such conditions. Inclement weather has played a role at the past two events on the calendar in Canada and Great Britain, and forecasts suggest that F1 could possibly be in for more wet running at the Red Bull Ring. If this happens, it could add an extra sense of unpredictability to the weekend, which will feature the second Sprint of 2022 on Saturday.
Sprint weekend can feel "rushed", says Schumacher
Schumacher is looking forward to returning to Austria, though admits that the addition of the Sprint creates an added time pressure. "I'm excited about simply going to Austria. It's a great track, a great venue, and it’s always nice," the driver said in a Haas Q&A. "It's good weather usually so I bring my bike and go cycling with the team. I've done sprints a lot in some format in Formula 2 but I like driving free practice sessions and being able to really perfect the car, and then go into qualifying. "Everything builds up to that big event whereas I feel with the Sprint you have one free practice, one qualifying and then you go straight into the Sprint itself and sometimes it can feel a bit rushed." In terms of why he likes the venue so much, the German added: "First of all, I think it's beautiful – all the mountains and 'Heidi-esque' vibe, it's super cool. "I had a great time with the team last year and I enjoy the mountain area. It's always been a good track to me in some ways, so I’m excited about going back there and hopefully we'll have a good weekend."
Schumacher welcomes prospect of rain
The area is often affected by changing weather, and Schumacher hopes that rain will fall during the weekend. "I want the wet, I want it to rain," he explained. "This year as well with the car it definitely helps, so that obviously helps for motivation in the rain. "If you already have the thought that you’re happy about rain, that can change a lot in how you approach it compared to a person who doesn't like rain and doesn't want to drive – it's all about mindset." When questioned about the pressure on the engines and brakes of the F1 cars due to Austria being 677 metres above sea level, Schumacher acknowledged that there is a balancing act involved. "I think this year more than ever it's a matter of conserving the brakes and trying to maximize what you have," he said. "Those things unfortunately don't go hand in hand, so you're kind of on the limit of both and it's about what do you prioritise – making the car as quick as it can go or making the car reliable as it can be, so it's up to us to find." Schumacher will arrive at the Red Bull Ring off the back of scoring his first-ever points in F1 at the British Grand Prix.
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