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Ralf Schumacher responds to Vowles statement: 'I disagree'
- Ludo van Denderen
James Vowles, Williams' team principal, had really seen that Mick Schumacher had made progress in his development in recent years, he told in Monza on Friday morning. Yet Mercedes' German test and reserve driver was not given the seat of Logan Sargeant, who was pushed aside after the Dutch Grand Prix. 'Mick is a good driver, but not special,' said Vowles, who therefore preferred to appoint his own driver from the Williams Academy, Franco Colapinto.
Meanwhile, Ralf Schumacher also arrived in the Italian paddock. Coincidentally promptly in front of the Williams hospitality, GPblog asked the former Grand Prix driver what he thought of Vowles' observation about Mick Schumacher being 'good, but not special'? Schumacher commented, "Well, I think Mick obviously at Haas, didn't have the chance to prove his pure talent."
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"At the end of the season, with Magnussen [as teammate], he was really fast. But yeah, that's Formula 1 and you have to accept what he (Vowles) thinks. I think a bit differently, but it's okay. On the other hand, it's understandable that they tried to force their own young drivers," said Ralf Schumacher.
According to the former driver, Mick still has a possibility of returning to F1 in '25. "We'll see, there's one more chance. If that doesn't work, yes, you have to say, for me, it's pretty much the last seat at Audi, which he has to get, because otherwise, I guess he would be too long out of Formula One.," Schumacher said, indicating he did not know how and if talks with Audi were ongoing.
"No, no, honestly, I'm not involved in that. I think Mattia Binotto knows Mick well from his young days, so I think he doesn't need any support on his decision," the German concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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17 September 2024
