Toto Wolff Responds to Claims of “Politics” in Mick Schumacher’s Pink Bull Snub

UNITED KINGDOM: Mercedes Crew Boss Toto Wolff has hit again at latest claims made by Helmut Marko, advisor to Pink Bull, suggesting that Wolff’s involvement in “politics” performed a job in Pink Bull overlooking Mick Schumacher for a seat for the 2023 Formulation 1 season.

Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, misplaced his race seat with Haas on the finish of final yr and at present serves as Mercedes’ reserve driver. 

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Regardless of his expertise and the admiration of Franz Tost, workforce principal of Pink Bull’s B workforce AlphaTauri, Schumacher wanted assist to safe a spot elsewhere.

Marko make clear the state of affairs, revealing that Wolff sought a gathering with Pink Bull’s CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff, to debate Schumacher’s prospects. 

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Nonetheless, Marko claimed that Wolff’s involvement in politics on the governing physique, the FIA, led to Pink Bull taking the subject off the desk. 

He questioned why Mercedes didn’t supply Schumacher a seat of their workforce or use their affect to safe a spot at a buyer workforce like Williams.

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Wolff, who has beforehand expressed frustration with how Haas handled Schumacher within the 2022 season, responded by stating that Marko’s model of occasions differs from his personal. 

He clarified that he by no means mentioned inserting Schumacher at Pink Bull with their management. Whereas he praises Schumacher each time attainable, he believes it’s finally as much as every workforce to resolve on their drivers.

Schumacher’s worth to Mercedes was evident on the latest Spanish Grand Prix, when he was essential to the workforce’s turnaround. 

Working in a single day within the workforce’s simulator, he contributed to their strongest efficiency of the season, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell reaching the rostrum.

Wolff emphasised that he would shortly permit Schumacher to race for Mercedes if Hamilton or Russell have been unavailable. 

Nonetheless, his precedence is to assist Schumacher safe a full-time race seat. He believes that the present state of affairs hinders Schumacher’s potential and that he deserves the chance to showcase his expertise.

Within the meantime, Schumacher can have the chance to drive his father’s 2011-spec Mercedes W02 on the Goodwood Competition of Pace, including to the record of automobiles he has sampled from his father’s illustrious profession.

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