Mick Schumacher reveals ‘special’ thing he saw from Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes

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Mick Schumacher has now opened up on the ‘special’ thing he noticed after watching Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes over the 2023 Formula 1 season as their reserve driver.

The Silver Arrows hired Schumacher at the end of 2022 after Haas opted to axe the 24-year-old for Nico Hulkenberg. Mercedes were already alert to the potential of the German losing his place on the grid. So, they gave him the role of supporting Hamilton and George Russell.

Schumacher will again understudy Hamilton and Russell at Mercedes in 2024 but will race in WEC for Alpine, as well. He is one of the French manufacturer’s six full-time Hypercar drivers who will also tackle Le Mans. Schumacher did not race at all in 2023 after two seasons in F1.

Mick Schumacher opens up on watching Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Not having a race seat allowed Schumacher a chance to learn from the ways that Hamilton, Russell and Mercedes operate. He particularly appreciated how Hamilton and Mercedes can now communicate effectively without using words after 11 seasons together in Formula 1.

“I think that, for me, what people forget – I was aware of it but it’s still something which you don’t think too much about – is that everybody is human and [that] everybody has the same insecurities,” Schumacher told the official F1 website.

“That, for me, was my biggest learning. Some of the questions when driving myself which weren’t answered then, have been answered here.

“That everybody is going through some stuff especially while racing and it was great to have that experience. But also, obviously, you know why they are as good as they are because of the approaches they take.

“It’s great to see also Lewis – who has been with the team for so long – the connection he has to the team. They can talk without using words and understand each other, and that I think is something which is quite special.”

Mick Schumacher learnt a lot in a frustrating season for Mercedes

Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes for the 2013 season but had raced with their engines in F1 since 2007. A move from Woking to Brackley has yielded six of the 38-year-old’s record-equalling seven drivers’ titles. He even has the most wins (103) and poles (104) in F1 history.

Yet despite all of Hamilton’s glory, his desire to win and help Mercedes return to the front of the grid remains strong. He also gave Schumacher a look into what it took behind the scenes during 2023. Even though it marked another frustrating season for Hamilton and Mercedes.

After claiming at least one win each season since debuting in F1 in 2007, Hamilton has now failed to win a race in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. His best finish this year was P2 at the Australian, Spanish and Mexico City Grand Prix. The Briton claimed three P3 finishes.