Haas driver Mick Schumacher is on the rise in Formula 1 after clinching back-to-back points finishes for the first time in the sport. The 23-year-old followed up an eighth-place finish at Silverstone with a career-best run to sixth in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
And his performance in Spielberg was enough to make Jacques Villeneuve admit his old rival’s offspring has “definitely progressed” since he first joined motorsport’s elite. Schumacher Jr. made his F1 debut for Haas in 2021 but failed to finish higher than 12th in 22 starts, while he’s also retired five times in his last 18 outings.
The recent improvements are clear to see, however, after the young German bounded up to 15th in the drivers’ standings. He might have finished even higher at the Red Bull Ring were it not for a team order telling the 23-year-old to remain behind Hass comrade Kevin Magnussen.
“Let me close with a compliment and a tip for Mick Schumacher. He has definitely progressed as a driver,” wrote Villeneuve in his latest column for Formule1.nl. “I also criticized him: he crashed a lot and forced, but it’s really getting better. His fight with [Lewis] Hamilton on Saturday was beautiful.”
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“But as soon as he passes someone, he squeezes the other too much off the track,” the Canadian continued. “Yesterday [Sunday] he did that a few times, including with Fernando Alonso. He has to be more careful. It’s the only downside because his speed in the last races is good.”
Hass’ VF-22—which utilizes a Ferrari power unit—clearly has the capacity to compete considering Magnussen has mustered five top-10 finishes this season and sits 11th overall. That being said, Schumacher has now placed higher than his partner in six races so far this season (including retirements), signaling a potential shift in momentum at the manufacturer.
