Mick Schumacher says that he is feeling comfortable alongside Kevin Magnussen and that he is finding the team-mate dynamic at Haas better than he did in 2021.
The German driver will be more eager than most to get going this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, after seeing his weekend in Saudi Arabia ruined by a huge smash in qualifying.
Indeed, that crash stopped him from competing in the race as his Haas team opted to not use spare parts to fix the car and, instead, he watched on as Kevin Magnussen once again put in a strong performance.
Certainly, it's been heartening for the team and for fans alike to see Haas' resurgence and they will hope that they can achieve another strong result in Oz this weekend.
Ahead of it, too, Schumacher revealed the strong partnership he is building with Magnussen and how positive it is proving for the team in terms of the development of their car.
“Kevin has been racing for so long,” Schumacher via SpeedWeek.
“He’s been racing in Formula 1 since 2014, he’s been able to move very different types of GP racers, and I’m sure that vast experience has helped him adapt so quickly to the 2022 Haas.
“It’s very interesting to see how Kevin approaches a GP weekend. We can benefit from each other in the way he feels from the car and what I feel.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 26: Mick Schumacher of Germany driving the (47) Haas F1 VF-22 Ferrari on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 26, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
“We share all the information, it’s very open about how the car behaves in different corners.
“Then we bring our joint impressions together and try to make the car even better as a result. Sometimes I’m faster, sometimes he is.
“I feel more comfortable with the working relationship with the other driver this year, it’s going really well. And we are realigning expectations. Last year we had to be happy if we found ourselves in 16th place.
“This season we can finish fifth if everything goes optimally.”
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