Mick Schumacher has suggested that he would be open to taking a reserve role in Formula 1 next year, following his exit from the Haas team. The 23-year-old will not be retained at the American team for next season, having been replaced by Nico Hulkenberg. Schumacher had struggled to match teammate Kevin Magnussen's form in 2022, with the Dane drafted back in as a last-minute replacement for Nikita Mazepin at the start of the season. When asked for his reaction to the news, Schumacher believed that he had improved over the year, and suggested that he should have been afforded more time after a "tough" 2021 debut season. "Obviously, it's disappointing in some ways because I feel like I've been doing a good job up to this point," Schumacher told media, including RacingNews365.com . "On the other hand, the team decided to go that way, so I have to respect that. I'm focused on the future. "We've had our ups and downs for sure, but I think that the trend was always pointing upwards, and I think that is what's important. "It's only my second year in Formula One. Last year... I don't even know if you can really count it as a year because obviously it was a tough one, we were only at the back. "I had to get used to being in the midfield pack fighting, and I feel that across the year we've managed to do that, and I feel like I've extracted the maximum out of each situation."
Schumacher's 2023 options 'to be discussed'
With doubts emerging in recent weeks about Schumacher's chances of staying and the Haas team, speculation increased regarding his likely 2023 destination. Mercedes' Team Principal Toto Wolff declared his interest in bringing the Schumacher name back to the Silvers Arrows. When asked about his future plans, Schumacher suggested a reserve driver role in 2023 wasn't off the table. "I just want to put myself into a position where I know it's going to be right for me and, whether that's reserve or if that's driving, [then] that's to be discussed and to be analysed," responded Schumacher. "I have the people that I trust around me who I will be consulting with and then I'll come out with some news hopefully soon."
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