The 23-year-old, Mick Schumacher who is now a Formula 1 driver, will race at the Australian Grand Prix for the first time this weekend, following in his father’s footsteps.
Mick Schumacher’s famed father Michael Schumacher owns the Albert Park lap record. The racer recalls visiting Melbourne as a boy to watch his father race.
“I’m quite excited, I’m looking forward to getting to know the track and getting to know the city as well,” – Mick Schumacher
“I’ve been here with my dad and have watched him race in Melbourne. That was really cool, and I’m excited to drive here myself. And make my own experiences of driving in Formula 1 in Australia.”
After surviving a horrific crash in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks ago, Schumacher feels fortunate to be in Melbourne.
After clipping a kerb at high speed, he had to be taken out of his wrecked car. And airlifted to hospital for precautionary testing before being declared out of the race.
The Swiss-born German remarked afterwards that he felt “fine” and that his focus is now entirely on conquering Albert Park. Like his 7 time world champion father did in his Ferrari in the early 2000s with 4 victories.
He set a new lap record of 1:24.125 in 2004 during that dominant run, which stands today. With considerable changes to the course slated for the weekend. It is unlikely to survive to shave lap times by as much as five seconds.
“My dad holds the lap record in a 2004 Ferrari. I got the chance to drive that car and it’s an amazing car,” said Schumacher.
In a Nutshell!
Australian Grand Prix is set for Sunday, 10 Apr, 10:00 Am at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. The racer seems very excited for the coming Grand Prix saying that “We’ll make our own laps in a similar-looking car, actually. The cars have turned back in time and they’re looking a bit more like they used to with the high front wing, so it will be interesting.”
