Romain Grosjean was one of the drivers that were replaced by Haas to accommodate Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin in 2021. Less than two years later, the latter two drivers are already out of the system.
Kevin Magnussen, who accompanied Grosjean out of F1 in 2020, also returned with the American team in 2021 and partnered with Schumacher. Now ahead of the 2023 season, Schumacher sees himself ousted by his compatriot Nico Hulkenberg.
Though many see this exit as unfair as the son of the most successful F1 driver was starting to make promising performances and, for the first time, had a car with which he could compete against others. But in the end, Haas had other ideas in their mind.
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Can’t understand why Mick Schumacher was sacked
Grosjean seeing his successor’s exit from Haas has puzzled the former. According to him, there is no real reason for him to be replaced by another driver, yet a veteran like Hulkenberg has taken over his spot.
“Mick Schumacher had a great end to the season. There wasn’t really any reason to replace him. Still, the team wanted another driver and that’s why they contacted Nico Hulkenberg,” said Grosjean on his Youtube channel.
The Frenchman even added that he wouldn’t have made the same choice and continued with the 2020 F2 champion. Schumacher for 2023 is without a driver but is likely to become the reserve driver for Mercedes.
Guenther Steiner reasons his decision
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has been assertive on his decision to sack Schumacher. He claims that he doesn’t doubt the abilities of his former driver and sees him as a capable driver.
But according to him, Haas currently needs an experienced driver with whom his team can grow. On the other hand, Schumacher only had given two years in F1, out of which one season was practically uncompetitive.
So, he doesn’t see the German as the right candidate to go ahead with. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg, who has vast experience in F1, is the person Steiner claims a team like Haas needs with Magnussen to grow further.
Schumacher’s re-entry in F1 seems to be at a tough spot. However, examples like Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon and Hulkenberg show that it’s not impossible and can be done under the right connections. But whether he’ll join forces with Mercedes to push his F1 career forward by leaving Ferrari’s hands remains to be seen.
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