Mick Schumacher is grateful for his father Michael’s advice. “Without his involvement and his tips, I certainly would not have gotten there,” said the reserve driver of the Formula 1 team Mercedes in the show “Hardenacke meets…”, which will be broadcast on the Sky TV channel this Saturday (5:30 p.m.). Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher accompanied his son from the beginning in karting.

Mick Schumacher is grateful to Papa Michael for his tips

“The exchange has always been one of trying different tactics. Sometimes he tried to be very strict, sometimes not to be strict at all and just see what Mick jumps on now. There were always a few moments where I had to think about what I did wrong. But those were moments that got me further,” said 24-year-old Mick Schumacher. “I found this ups and downs and inconsistencies really great, because it’s no different in motorsport. You always meet some people who give you everything, support you and have your back 100% and then some who don’t have your back. But you still have to perform.”

Mick on dad Michael: “Dad never put that pressure on”

Mick Schumacher never saw his famous surname as a burden. “Not at all, because dad never put that pressure on me,” said Mick Schumacher. “Dad had a great feeling for saying, ‘Don’t think about it anymore, make the best of what we have.'”

Of course, Mick was initially unaware of what a popular figure the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was before. “It was clear to me that dad is a racing driver. But of course it wasn’t so clear what the dimensions were,” he said.

Mick Schumacher has lost his regular cockpit at Haas

Mick Schumacher lost his regular cockpit at Haas after two years and then switched to Mercedes this season. He hopes to get a regular place again next season. But he doesn’t have many options anymore. Father Michael has been shielded from the public since a serious skiing accident at the end of 2013.