Formula 1 expert makes devastating Vettel verdict - does Mick Schumacher deliver the big surprise?

Created: 03/15/2022 13:07

By: Christoph Klaucke

Formula 1 is facing an unpredictable season.

Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher start for Germany.

The chances of the German drivers.

Sakhir - Formula 1* is in the starting blocks.

The eagerly awaited new season begins on Sunday (20 March) with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Two German drivers will take the wheel again this year.

Sebastian Vettel is going into a trend-setting season at Aston Martin, Mick Schumacher finally wants to attack in his second year in Formula 1 and score the first points.

What are the chances for the German duo?

Formula 1 expert Christian Danner makes two completely different forecasts for the two German drivers.

The longtime RTL commentator makes a devastating judgment for Sebastian Vettel.

Mick Schumacher, on the other hand, can certainly calculate his chances.

Formula 1: expert makes devastating Vettel verdict - Mick Schumacher with chances

With Aston Martin, Sebastian Vettel is "just as far from a win as last year," said Christian Danner in AvD Motor & Sport Magazin at Sport1.

"I don't think he can regularly attack the top three teams now." Vettel had managed a second place in Baku last year, twice he finished fifth, in the end he was only twelfth in the drivers' championship.

Aston Martin wants to fight for the world championship by 2026 at the latest.

It will be "an important year" for the ex-world champion, said Danner before the start of the season in Bahrain next weekend.

"It's rumored that he's past his prime.

In recent years, he hasn't attracted attention because of his driving highlights, but because of mistakes," was the harsh judgment of the former racing driver.

• Sebastian Vettel

• Born: July 3, 1987 (34 years) in Heppenheim

• Current team: Aston Martin

• Achievements: Formula 1 World Champion (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Sebastian Vettel: Former world champion wants to return to the top of Formula 1 with Aston Martin

Vettel was Formula 1 World Champion four times in a row in the Red Bull, but the last title was nine years ago.

After failing at Ferrari, he sought a fresh start at Aston Martin.

After the disappointing seventh place in the Constructors' Championship, the 34-year-old and the Brits should be able to move up significantly.

With Mike Krack from Luxembourg, an old acquaintance took over the racing team, Vettel knows the new team boss from his early days in Formula 1 at BMW-Sauber.

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It is not known how long Vettel's contract will run, rumor has it that it will only last until the end of the season.

Vettel has to deliver in the second year, the pressure is increasing.

After all, owner Lawrence Stroll calls him his "best paid employee".

With the completely new regulations in Formula 1, Vettel can win everything, but also lose a lot.

Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel (left) and Mick Schumacher before the start of the new season.

© Jerry Andre/Imago

Mick Schumacher can "drive at the front" - first points in Formula 1 waving

The expectations of Mick Schumacher, who could also become one of the big winners of the new rules, are significantly lower.

According to Formula 1 expert Christian Danner, Schumacher's Haas team, which was clearly at the end of the field last year, therefore has chances.

The new car is "a copy of Ferrari and moves from the back to the middle, which is enormously wide," explained Danner.

Under certain circumstances, Schumacher could “particularly in the first half of the season, when the teams don’t have any updates yet, be up there with the front runners.” Haas completely sacrificed the past season and concentrated on developing the new car very early on.

Will the move pay off?

• Mike Schumacher

• Born: March 22, 1999 (age 22 years) in Vufflens-le-Château, Switzerland

• Team: Haas F1 Team

• Achievements: Formula 3 champion 2018, FIA Formula 2 champion 2020, 22 Formula 1 starts (as of March 15)

Mick Schumacher: New Haas teammate - Formula 1 future soon at Ferrari?

In Bahrain, Mick Schumacher attracted attention with a second place in the test drives.

"It's about whether we're fast or not, and that's the positive thing about it - we are!" said Schumi junior, delighted.

After Nikita Mazepin was kicked out, the 22-year-old faces a new, experienced teammate in Kevin Magnussen - Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was also a candidate.

"Kevin was only out for a year and had been driving Formula 1 for a long time before that.

But I personally know what I can do, so that doesn't intimidate me.

And I think I can benefit from him," said Schumacher.

Should Mick Schumacher dominate the 29-year-old Dane, like Mazepin last year, in the team-internal duel, that would be a clear recommendation for more.

"The better this year goes, the greater my opportunities will be for the future," he said.

Schumi junior has been sponsored by the Ferrari Academy since 2019.

The Italians also supply Haas with engines and parts.

Mick has even been the reserve driver for eleven of the 23 Scuderia races this season.

A Schumacher in a red Ferrari would be the dream of all Tifosi and German motorsport fans.

Mick's goal is clear anyway: "I want to be the best driver there is."