Haas has moved to ease pressure on Mick Schumacher after scoring his first points in Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix.
The German has had a difficult season so far with several big crashes and was one of two drivers without a top 10 finish before claiming P8 at Silverstone last Sunday.
It was no surprise then that the relief was clear when Schumacher crossed the finish line.
“Finally!” he shouted over his radio. “I told you guys this [was] the week for me!
“Prove them wrong and believe in yourself – that’s what I say to that.”
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It was also an impressive drive from Schumacher, who capitalised on the early chaos before making his way through the field.
“I think overall we are really happy coming back from P19 [on the grid],” he told Formula1.com. “I said we had the speed to go forwards and we definitely showed it today.
“It’s great for the team, we have the double score in the points.
“That’s obviously very helpful in the Constructors’, but also for me I think it’s great to just get those questions from the media away and focus on what’s really important and that’s the racing and the driving in itself.”
Not at all nervous watching that last lap battle between Mick and Max ?#HaasF1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/bWfaVAR64F
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 4, 2022
Schumacher’s result could have been even better too, as he spent the final laps battling Max Verstappen in a damaged Red Bull.
And his bigger supporter was arguably driving the car behind.
“I was actually screaming inside the car like, ‘Go Mick – go get him!’” Sebastian Vettel said with Mick laughing next to him.
“I’m very happy for him – I think it’s been a long time that he deserves the result, and it’s great to get it.”
You LOVE TO SEE IT ??#HaasF1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/OzgIbiGQXq
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 3, 2022
Clearly, the next step for Schumacher is to be a regular points scorer in F1, but Haas chief Guenther Steiner warns against making that expectation.
“I think it will give him a little boost, and just boost his confidence,” he said.
“It’s just one hurdle. But what we have to watch now is that the pressure now doesn’t come and that if he doesn’t score points he gets critiqued.
“It’s a sport. The expectation shouldn’t be that he scores every race and then if he doesn’t score, he’s being critiqued again.
“It’s put him on a pedestal and throw him down again, and we shouldn’t try to do that one.”
