Mick Schumacher thoughts ahead of Monaco Grand-Prix

F1 MONACO Grand Prix
Monaco Circuit
20-23 May 2021

Monaco holds a special place in the history of Formula 1. What does it mean to you personally as a driver to be making your first Formula 1 start at such an iconic venue?

“It’s a historical circuit and a challenging track too. Obviously, it’s a place every racing car driver in general is excited to go to or experience at least just once. I have experienced it in Formula 2 – that was for the first time back in 2019 and I loved it. I’m immensely looking forward to it this year driving in Formula 1.”

Are there any moments from Formula 1’s back catalogue of Monaco highlights that stand out for you?  Are there any driver performances in particular that you’ve admired watching the Monaco Grand Prix growing up?

“You probably won’t find a Monaco twice, if that makes sense – you will never find the same race or same weekend twice there. It’s always special, there’s always something happening – something different happening. I wouldn’t really know which race to pick out to be honest.

 In general, it’s always a crazy performance from every driver to drive Monaco. It’s a real challenge there when you’re so close to the wall every time for over 70 laps. Mentally it’s super hard, super difficult, but it’s a challenge and that’s why it’s so fun to go to such a track. I’m really looking forward to it.”

You raced in Monaco back in 2019 in your first season of F2 competition. What was it like for you to be part of the Grand Prix weekend there that season and to be racing on the streets of Monte Carlo for the first time?

“Formula 2 was obviously quite a notch slower than Formula 1, so I’m excited to feel how it’s going to be in a Formula 1 car. The Formula 2 car, in general, is still a very fast car, and it’s a heavy car, but it’s alive and moving a lot.

It was definitely a challenge and fun for me to experience Monaco. I’d only gone to Baku before and Macau, which is quite similar, in terms of street circuits. To have been part of the Monaco weekend in general was great for me. Seeing Formula 1 drive there was great but to be there in Formula 2 was also special for me to experience it and to learn from it.”

How much of a driver’s circuit is Monaco and for you in particular, what stands out as the biggest challenge arriving at your first street circuit in Formula 1 with just four race starts under your belt in the VF-21?

“It’s definitely a driver’s circuit – the driver can make the difference there. Obviously, if you have a car that you trust, one that you feel comfortable in, most likely that will help you go into Monaco, and into FP1, with somewhat more of an open mind to learn the track.

If you also have to learn the car, or if you’re not comfortable in the car, that definitely makes it a lot more difficult. I’m super comfortable in the car and I’m excited to learn how to drive around Monaco in the VF-21.”

The Monaco Grand Prix will see a limited number of fans return to the grandstands. Just how different is it for you to have been racing recently without the atmosphere that the fans bring to an event?

“It’s going to be nice to have some atmosphere back at the track even if it’s not to the extent it would usually be. Hopefully in the next few weeks and months we’ll kind of get back to a normal life – obviously that goes for everything. But, it’s definitely great to start off small and have it on the safer side, better to be safe than sorry.

I’ve been racing without an atmosphere at track since last season like everybody else. I’ve been missing that. I’ve missed having fans at track and seeing them enjoying us racing and cheering if we do well. Let’s get that back soon, if not fully this season then hopefully by next season.”
    

Stuart Morrison- photo Haas F1

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