Schumacher highlights frustrations of F1 reserve driver role

Mick Schumacher has stated that his reserve Formula 1 driver role with Mercedes this year involved “a lot of hair-pulling”.

At the end of last year's F1 campaign, Schumacher was dropped by Haas in favour of Nico Hulkenberg, bringing his two-year tenure with the squad to an end.

Schumacher signed with Mercedes in a reserve driver role as he assisted Lewis Hamilton and George Russell with the development of the W14 car.

The Brackley-based squad experienced a difficult campaign as it endured its first winless season since 2011.

Schumacher attended Grands Prix with Mercedes while also carrying out simulator duties but was resigned to not holding a full-time race seat in any category.

However, that will change for next year as he has signed for Alpine to race its Hypercar in the World Endurance Championship while also fulfilling his reserve driver duties with Mercedes.

F1 remains the dream

While Schumacher has asserted that his primary focus is returning to the F1 grid, the German driver highlighted the importance of getting back behind a race seat.

“It does include a lot of hair pulling and tearing and I feel like you don't really see that,” Schumacher told media including RacingNews365.com, referring to his sideline F1 role.

“This is the first personal media table that I've done this year. I think that shows and says a lot in that sense.

“Formula 1 has always been the dream and will always remain the dream. So when I get the chance to do that step back [to F1], I’m sure I’ll grab it with both hands and prove it to everybody.

“But there's no reason for me to stay here not race and follow behind everybody. I'd rather go out there, find something to race and develop my skills.

“And if at the end [of the day] that leads to no way back to F1, but leads to another career, then I’m happy to do that.”