Jun.2 (GMM) Veteran Swiss journalist Roger Benoit believes Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career might have survived had his father Michael not suffered his devastating skiing accident in late 2013.
The son of the seven-time world champion lost his Haas seat at the end of 2022 and now races in IndyCar, where he has struggled to make a major impact so far.
Asked by Sport1 whether Mick would still be in Formula 1 had Michael remained active behind the scenes, Benoit answered: “That would probably be the only argument.”
“Michael would have exerted pressure behind the scenes in the right places – something Mick’s management and family didn’t do.”
However, Benoit doubts even Schumacher senior could have fundamentally altered his son’s trajectory.
“One thing is certain – even he couldn’t have changed his son’s talent,” he said.
“The Schumacher camp ultimately did itself no favours in Formula 1 because at some point all they did was complain.”
Benoit pointed to comments previously made by Williams team boss James Vowles. “Vowles once put it quite aptly – Mick has talent, but so do many others,” he said.
“What he lacks is that exceptional quality. And that’s precisely what Formula 1 needs.”
The long-time Blick correspondent believes Schumacher’s chances of returning to Formula 1 are now effectively over.
“For me, that chapter is closed,” Benoit said.
“Some still dream of a comeback, but they can forget it. He no longer plays a role in Formula 1.”
However, Benoit said the sporting debate is overshadowed by the personal tragedy surrounding the Schumacher family. “Two years ago, Mick said something that shouldn’t be forgotten,” he recalled.
“He was present at his father’s horrific skiing accident. And Mick said he would give all the money in the world just to be able to speak to his father one more time.”
“I believe that sentence encapsulates the entire tragedy of this story.”
Benoit also reflected on his own complicated relationship with Michael Schumacher, whom he famously criticised throughout much of his career.
“The term ‘Schummel (Cheating) Schumi’ came from me,” he admitted. “He really did go too far in some races, sometimes even resulting in disqualifications.”
Yet the pair later reconciled.
“At a race in Japan, he suddenly walked past me, bent down, patted my knee, and said ‘Let’s start all over again. Let’s forget all that.'”
Benoit also recalled another lighter moment. “Once he told me I was too fat,” he laughed.
“I replied, ‘Wait until the next race in three weeks, then I’ll only weigh 80 kilos. And at the next grand prix, I stepped on the Ferrari scales and it really was only 79.8 kilos.”
“Michael laughed and said he owed me dinner and a beer somewhere in the world for that.”
“Unfortunately, he still owes me that to this day.”
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