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      Lewis Hamilton confident Mercedes WILL be able to challenge Red Bull for title as 2023 season draws closer

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S Mercedes team are confident they have fixed their challenger for this season after a mixed spell on track during testing.The new F1 season kicks off this week in Bahrain where Hamilton and his team-mate George Russell hope to be able to take the fight to world champion Max Verstappen.
      Lewis Hamilton admitted there is still a way to go for Mercedes to get to the level he wantsCredit: Getty
      Hamilton was second-quickest on the final day of testing behind Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez.
      And while he says the team are “not quite where we want to be” he has reasons to be optimistic going into the new season.
      He said: “There has been a lot of discovery and the whole team has approached it with the same mentality, working hard, not being complacent and staying focused.
      “We’re not quite where we want to be but it’s a good platform to start from. We don’t know where we will be next week, but we will stay positive and continue to push to the maximum.”
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      After a tricky day on track last Friday, Merc’s engineering chief Andrew Shovlin says that after a late night spent working on the problem they came up with a suitable fix.
      He added: “A fair bit of work took place overnight to find some refinements to the car specification and recover our direction on the set-up.
      “We do seem to have made progress; both drivers felt the car was in a much better place across the range of conditions [on Saturday] and the balance is closer to what they require on a single lap and long run.
      “It’s clear that we still have work to do on car pace but it has given us a much more coherent picture of where we need to focus our efforts.
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      “We’ll be using the time ahead of next weekend to go through the data we’ve collected and aim to extract a bit more lap time.”
      Meanwhile, Aston Martin will NOT turn to Sebastian Vettel if Lance Stroll is not fit enough to drive this week.
      Stroll suffered wrist injuries when he crashed his bicycle in Spain and was forced to miss all of pre-season testing.
      Aston say they will allow Stroll extra time to recover however if he does not pass a fitness test it will be reserve driver Felipe Drugovich who will compete in the race.
      Vettel retired at the end of last year, but there was growing speculation he could be lured back for a one-off race while Stroll recovers.
      Drugovich has already completed the pre-season alongside Aston’s new recruit, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. More

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      Michael Schumacher is ‘there but not there’ and can’t be part of the family, says ex-F1 boss pal in major health update

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      F1 LEGEND Eddie Jordan has opened up about his pal Michael Schumacher – saying the stricken star is “there, but not there” as mystery surrounds his health.Eddie, 74, gave the German his big break in F1 when the then 22-year-old racer made his debut with Jordan in the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991.
      Eddie Jordan with Michael Schumacher in 1991Credit: Sutton Motor Sport Images
      Jordan said his ‘love’ for Michael ‘still lasts’ after he gave him his break in F1Credit: Corbis – Getty
      Michael Schumacher’s son, Mick Schumacher, has followed him into F1Credit: AFP
      Michael would go on to break all the records – winning seven world championships and 91 races while driving for Ferrari and Benetton.
      But the 54-year-old racing legend has not been seen or heard from for nearly 10 years after his horror ski crash back in 2013.
      He was left with a severe brain injury and in a medically induced coma.
      Mystery surrounds his condition – with his family imposing a strict “family only” rule on who can visit him.
      Read more on Michael Schumacher
      And it came as Michael’s son Mick followed in his dad’s footsteps into F1.
      But the young driver, 23, struggled and lost his race seat at the end of 2022 after a series of crashes for the Haas team.
      Eddie was denied a visit to see Michael – but has kept up contact with Mick.
      The F1 boss said his “love” for the seven-time world champion “still lasts and will always do so while I’m able to draw breath” in a chat with sports betting firm OLBG.
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      And last year, he revealed his son Mick had reached out to him.
      “As far as I’m concerned, I was touched by it and the reason I was touched by it was because it can’t be easy knowing that your father is not able to be part of the family, he’s there but he’s not there,” said Jordan.
      Jordan explained that Mick spoke about his father in glowing terms as he was enduring his own struggles in F1.
      “It touched me because I felt so much about Michael, I went out of my way to find him, give him his first chance in Spa, didn’t last very long but that love for him still lasts and will always do so while I’m able to draw breaths,” said Eddie.
      Mick – who was dropped by Haas in favour of veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg for 2023 – is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.
      He will be backing up Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, potentially stepping in for them if they have to miss a race.
      In a touching link to his dad, Mercedes is the team that Michael ended his career with – having a brief three-season comeback from 2010 to 2012 after his initial retirement in 2006.
      Schuey is credited with helping to lay the foundations of the Silver Arrows as they went on to dominate the sport – winning eight constructors’ and seven drivers’ titles – between 2014 and 2021.
      Eddie however believes Mick could find his way back into a full-time race seat.
      “He’s been dropped for somebody else, and that’s a tough decision, he has another fight to come back and to make his name, climb up that ladder again,” he said.
      “I’m quite sure he will do it.”
      Jordan also revealed Michael named his son after legendary sportsman Mick Doohan.
      He said Mick was given his name “as a mark of respect” to the Aussie five-time MotoGP world champion.
      “Mick Schumacher isn’t named after his dad like a lot of people seem to think,” he said.
      “Mick Schumacher is named after a person who his father, Michael, was in total awe of, a sportsman who had won five world titles back to back with Honda.
      “And that is no other than Mick Doohan.
      “As a mark of respect, Michael Schumacher called his son Mick.”
      Last year, Jordan revealed Michael’s wife denied him a visit to see the Formula 1 legend after his horror skiing accident.
      His wife Corinna keeps his condition a closely guarded secret with strict rules about who’s allowed to see him.
      Corinna prefers to treat her husband privately at their home in Geneva, Switzerland with ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt one of the few people allowed to see him outside his immediate family.
      Jordan said he contacted Corinna, who was once the girlfriend of his team’s driver Heinz Harold Frentzenm, before she went on to marry Schumacher.
      He told the Irish Daily Mirror: “I reached out and one stage asked was it appropriate and did I think we should go and visit him.
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      “The answer was no. No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family.
      “However, since then, young Mick Schumacher – Michael’s son – has reached out to me, and he has been extraordinary.”
      Eddie Jordan was the former boss of Jordan Grand PrixCredit: Getty Images More

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      ‘It’s a pointless exercise’ – Lewis Hamilton slams ‘dangerous’ new F1 rules that could put drivers’ lives at risk

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has slammed “dangerous” new rules coming into F1 that he believes threatens to put drivers’ lives at risk.The seven-time world champion lashed out at proposals to ban tyre blankets, saying it is a “pointless exercise”.
      Lewis Hamilton has blasted ‘dangerous’ new rules being introduced into F1Credit: Reuters
      The rules are being considered as part of a shake up to reduce costs, as the energy-consuming blankets pre-heat tyres to provide better grip.
      But Hamilton, one of only a few drivers who have trialled the new Pirelli tyres which had not been warmed first, says it could cause a crash as drivers take to the track on cold tyres.
      He said: “I think it’s dangerous. I’ve tested the no blankets and there’s going to be an incident at some stage.
      “So on a safety factor I think it’s the wrong decision. You have to drive multiple laps to get the tyres to work.
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      “The whole argument is that taking away the blankets is for going more sustainable and more green. In actual fact we just use more fuel to get temperature into the tyres.
      “But more concerning is just when you go out, the car is skating around, it’s very twitchy, and if there’s someone else who’s on tyres that are working you could easily collide with them. It’s a pointless exercise.”
      Pirelli, the FIA and F1 are already phasing out tyre warming equipment on sustainability grounds.
      Last year, the temperature at which they operate was reduced from 100C front and 80C rear to 70C all round.
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      There had been plans to drop that temperature further to 50C this season, but that was stopped after the drivers voiced their concerns during a trial run in Austin last year.
      Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc also agrees that the blanket ban comes too soon.
      He added: “For now I don’t think we are exactly ready. I think there’s still a little bit of work, especially on the warm-up part of it in the first few laps, it’s still quite tricky.”
      Meanwhile, Hamilton has mixed feelings about this year’s Mercedes car after F1 testing in Bahrain came to a conclusion today.
      He added: “It’s difficult to sum it up. We’ve had a couple of difficult days — Friday particularly was difficult.
      “The first day didn’t feel too bad, [but] yesterday was a little bit more of a struggle.
      “I think George has had a much better morning on Saturday, so hopefully we’ve got the set-up in a bit of a better place.
      “But right now, for example, the bouncing that we had has pretty much gone, so that’s a huge step for us.
      “It’s nice to drive without the bouncing for once, but there are still some underlying things that we’re working through.”
      The F1 season kicks off next Sunday in Bahrain and Hamilton says it is still too “difficult to know” where Mercedes sit in the pecking order.
      Read More on The Sun
      He said: “Some of the balance limitations that we had last year are present — we’re working through them.
      “[But] I’m really proud of everyone in the team for continuing to remain positive after a tough year last year, [doing] amazing through the winter for us to drive and have the mileage that we’ve had.” More

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      F1 fans moved to tears by heartwarming video of Michael Schumacher and a young Max Verstappen

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      A HEARTWARMING video of Micheal Schumacher and a young Max Verstappen has moved Formula 1 fans to tears.The F1 star spent a lot of time growing up with the Schumacher family as his dad Jos Verstappen and seven-time champ Michael were close friends.
      Video shows a young Max Verstappen with Michael Schumacher
      Schumacher pats a young Max Verstappen on the headCredit: Twitter/Semmieeef1/
      The F1 star has revealed he called Michael ‘uncle’Credit: PA
      Michael continues his recovery after his horror ski accidentCredit: PA:Press Association
      Max Verstappen has opened up about his close relationship with he man he called “Uncle”.
      The two families’ connection features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      Footage released as part of the show’s latest season feature Michael talking about young Mick and Max and discussing with Jos whether they would allow their children to become F1 drivers.
      One clip in particular, in which Schumacher bends down and pats Verstappen on the head, has moved Formula 1 fans.
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      “This moment makes me cry every single time i see it,” Tweeted a Verstappen fan account.
      In the clip Schumacher can bee seen smiling at the youngster, who he’s clearly very fond of.
      Several other fans responded with tear emojies to the clip, with one writing “that’s so adorable”.
      Max was introduced to racing from a young age alongside Michael’s son Mick, who also became an F1 driver.
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      Double-world champion Verstappen has revealed he spent a big part of his childhood with the Schumacher family as they would all go on holidays together.
      He told F1 Insider: “I was three or four years old at the time. I just knew that was Uncle Michael.
      “Who was very nice. Who was an extremely big family man.
      “But I never saw him as a record World Champion, I didn’t know that.”
      Max, a 35-time race winner, continued: “You can see that in the old photos and videos that we have at home. Mick or Gina was always there.
      “It was great. I still have positive memories of those weekends today.”
      The 24-year-old added that Jos and Michael would load their kids up on two-seater go-karts and two father and son duos would race against each other.
      He said: “We always went karting in two-seaters. Michael with Mick or Gina, my father with me.
      “But when it got too dangerous, the fathers quickly took over!”
      Netflix’s documentary also brought to light a touching photo showing Michael cradling baby Max on his lap alongside his own daughter, Gina-Maria.
      Drive to Survive also charts Mick’s difficult sophomore season in 2022 – including his horror 170mph accident in Saudi Arabia.
      Mick’s rough year saw him outscored by his teammate, the returning Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen.
      The show outlines Mick’s struggles – and the pressure that came with racing under the name “Schumacher”.
      Speaking about his good friend, Max said: “It was different for Mick than it was for me. His father is the record world champion, with seven world championships.
      “That’s a difficult starting position at first.”
      Michael, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, continues his recovery after his horror ski crash in 2013.
      He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act of his career which saw him become instrumental in setting up the dominant Mercedes team.
      The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
      Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident while on the slopes with Mick.
      He was left in a medically induced coma before being released home and then ever since it has been near silence on the driver’s condition.
      He has not been seen in public ever since.
      His family, led by wife Corinna, closely protect Michael’s privacy and offer him a quiet life.
      Read More on The Sun
      Since then there have only been hints and cryptic rumours about Schumacher’s health with drip-fed information from friends and unnamed sources.
      Schumacher pictured with Max Verstappen, right, and his daughter Gina-MariaCredit: Netflix
      Max is a two time world championCredit: PA More

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      Inside Michael Schumacher’s deep connection with Max Verstappen as F1 star would call him ‘Uncle’ Michael

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      MAX Verstappen has opened up about his close relationship with Michael Schumacher who he’d call “Uncle”.The F1 star spent a lot of time growing up with the Schumacher family as his dad Jos Verstappen and seven-time champ Michael were close friends.
      Max Verstappen spent a lot of time with the Schumacher family growing up
      The F1 star has revealed he called Michael ‘uncle’Credit: PA
      Michael continues his recovery after his horror ski accidentCredit: PA:Press Association
      Max was introduced to racing from a young age alongside Michael’s son Mick, who also became an F1 driver.
      The two families’ connection features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      Footage released as part of the show’s latest season feature Michael talking about young Mick and Max and discussing with Jos whether they would allow their children to become F1 drivers.
      The double-world champion has revealed he spent a big part of his childhood with the Schumacher family as they would all go on holidays together.
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      He told F1 Insider: “I was three or four years old at the time. I just knew that was Uncle Michael.
      “Who was very nice. Who was an extremely big family man.
      “But I never saw him as a record World Champion, I didn’t know that.”
      Max, a 35-time race winner, continued: “You can see that in the old photos and videos that we have at home. Mick or Gina was always there.
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      “It was great. I still have positive memories of those weekends today.”
      The 24-year-old added that Jos and Michael would load their kids up on two-seater go-karts and two father and son duos would race against each other.
      He said: “We always went karting in two-seaters. Michael with Mick or Gina, my father with me.
      “But when it got too dangerous, the fathers quickly took over!”
      Netflix’s documentary also brought to light a touching photo showing Michael cradling baby Max on his lap alongside his own daughter, Gina-Maria.
      Drive to Survive also charts Mick’s difficult sophomore season in 2022 – including his horror 170mph accident in Saudi Arabia.
      Mick’s rough year saw him outscored by his teammate, the returning Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen.
      The show outlines Mick’s struggles – and the pressure that came with racing under the name “Schumacher”.
      Speaking about his good friend, Max said: “It was different for Mick than it was for me. His father is the record world champion, with seven world championships.
      “That’s a difficult starting position at first.”
      Michael, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, continues his recovery after his horror ski crash in 2013.
      He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act of his career which saw him become instrumental in setting up the dominant Mercedes team.
      The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
      Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident while on the slopes with Mick.
      He was left in a medically induced coma before being released home and then ever since it has been near silence on the driver’s condition.
      He has not been seen in public ever since.
      His family, led by wife Corinna, closely protect Michael’s privacy and offer him a quiet life.
      Read More on The Sun
      Since then there have only been hints and cryptic rumours about Schumacher’s health with drip-fed information from friends and unnamed sources.
      Schumacher pictured with Max Verstappen, right, and his daughter Gina-MariaCredit: Netflix
      Max is a two time world championCredit: PA More

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      George Russell forced to abandon car during F1 pre-season testing in blow to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes

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      GEORGE RUSSELL was forced to abandon his Mercedes Formula One car during pre-season testing after suffering a hydraulics failure. The Mercedes W14 was brought to a halt with Russell behind the wheel during the second session of the day on Friday, causing a red flag.
      George Russell suffered a hydraulics failureCredit: Getty
      The Mercedes car had to be abandoned on track and Friday’s second session was red flaggedCredit: Getty
      Russell and team boss Toto Wolff have been talking up the performance of their car ahead of the new season. 
      However, Friday’s failure will come as a blow to Merc, Russell and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who are hoping to be competitive this season.
      The hydraulics failure left Russell unable to change gear or use power steering.
      The Brit could not shift up or down from fourth gear and had to abandon the car on track.
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      Former F1 racer Anthony Davidson said on Sky Sports’ coverage: “It would make sense that he’s stuck in fourth gear because the hydraulics controls the gear shift mechanism along with the power steering.
      “He had no clutch and that’s also controlled by hydraulics.
      “He’s got the green light on top of the car as well so it’s not a hybrid issue.”
      The team later said on Twitter: “We’ve confirmed it was a hydraulic failure that caused George’s car to stop on track.
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      “That’s likely to be the end of our running for today. Back on track tomorrow.”
      The fault comes after Russell expressed confidence that he can match double champ Max Verstappen, who’s driving for Red Bull.
      The 25-year-old said: “I definitely head into the season believing I can [win the championship].
      “At every point of my career I have gone in believing, but you need to take a rational view once you get to the track.
      “We definitely believe that eventually we will have a car capable of getting into that fight.
      “But Red Bull are looking very strong, very stable, and obviously Max is performing really well so realistically it will be a stretch for us next week.
      “But there is no reason why we cannot get there eventually at some point this year.
      “We have always seen in the past the strength of Mercedes’ development rate, so the belief is there.”
      The F1 season kicks off next weekend in Bahrain.

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      Slim Borgudd dead at 76: F1 driver who amazingly toured with Abba dies after battle with illness

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      FORMER F1 driver and musician Slim Borgudd has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with illness. The racer managed to enjoy a successful career in both music and motorsport.
      Borgudd drove for ATS and Tyrrell during his F1 careerCredit: Getty
      When he wasn’t driving, Borgudd was drumming with music another big passion of hisCredit: Dominique Musik YouTube
      He even toured with ABBA and became a session drummer for the band as he attempted to launch his F1 career.
      Borgudd would eventually take part in 10 Grand Prix races through the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
      He first drove for ATS and then for the Tyrrell team.
      He would pick up his only championship point at the 1981 British Grand Prix when he finished sixth in the ATS car.
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      Before breaking into F1, the Swedish driver raced in lower categories through the 1960s before making it to Formula 3 in 1976.
      His music career would bring more glamour as he played drums for Swedish jazz-rock bands.
      ABBA’s rise to stardom would actually help the star fund his racing career.
      Borgudd was close friends with ABBA founder member Björn Ulvaeus and the band sponsored him to drive for the ATS team with the band’s name on his car.
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      After his F1 career ended, he went on to become a European champion in truck racing before retiring.
      Tributes have been pouring in for the star after his death was announced.
      One fan wrote on Twitter: “RIP Slim Borgudd. ABBA drummer, F1 driver. Wild but excellent combo.”
      Another F1 viewer said: “R.I.P Slim Borgudd. I had the pleasure to watch you race at my first British Grand Prix in 1981.” More

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      Heartwarming moment Schumacher talks about son Mick and ‘nephew’ Max Verstappen becoming F1 drivers in rare video

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      THIS is the heartwarming moment Michael Schumacher talks about his son Mick and his “nephew” Max Verstappen in a rare interview. Newly unearthed footage featuring Michael and his former teammate – Max’s dad Jos Verstappen – was released as part of Netflix’s latest season of Drive to Survive.
      Michael Schumacher talks candidly with Jos Verstappen about their sons – Mick and Max
      Michael and his son Mick as he shows him his car
      Michael pictured with a very young Max
      The touching clip features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? – which briefly delves into the close relationship between the Verstappens and the Schumachers.
      Both Michael and Jos’s sons grew up to race in F1, with Max being a two-time champ and Mick currently serving as reserve driver for Sir Lewis Hamilton’s team Mercedes.
      Drive to Survive reveals how the families used to holiday together, with the two future drivers – now 25 and 23 -essentially growing up together thanks to their dads.
      The show includes a rare clip showing Jos and Michael discussing if they would let their children became F1 drivers in an interview filmed during the noughties.
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      The question prompts a laugh from Michael.
      “I think this could be the first time we have an argument if our two would be racing,” says the German.
      Jos replies: “For sure, they are a very similar age and they will compete with each other if they grow up and decide into go-karts.”
      But in a full version of the clip – which is available in grainy quality elsewhere online – Michael elaborates further, suggesting perhaps he wasn’t keen on the idea.
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      “I think horse-riding or golf is a much better sport for our kids,” he goes on.
      Jos replies that he will support Max in anything he wants to do – and he is famous for helping his son get onto the ladder in F1.
      Drive to Survive also has video of Max as a toddler hanging out with Michael.
      “We used to go on holidays when we were little together, the two families, and these kind of memories will stay with me,” explains Max, who is now a 35-time race winner in F1.
      “For both of us to be in F1 is amazing and also for Michael, he’s a very proud dad for sure.”
      Previously, Max has revealed that Michael used to be like his “uncle”.
      And he revealed as he grew up with the Schumachers he didn’t even know Michael was a multiple F1 champ.
      “I was three or four years old at the time. I just knew that was Uncle Michael. Who was very nice. Who was an extremely big family man,” Verstappen told F1 Insider.
      “But I never saw him as a record World Champion, I didn’t know that.”
      Max – a 35-time race winner – went on: “It was great. I still have positive memories of those weekends today.”
      And he revealed that Jos and Michael would load their kids up on two seater go-karts and two father & son duos would race against each other.
      Max would go on to break Schumacher’s long-standing record of the most races in a season – notching up 15 wins in 2022, two more than Michael’s 13 in 2004.
      Michael Schumacher pictured with Max, right, and his daughter Gina-MariaCredit: netflix
      Michael has not been seen in public ever since – with any information about his condition tightly controlled by his privacy-focused family led by wife Corinna.
      Fans are desperate for news – with the tenth anniversary of Schumacher’s accident coming up in December.
      And adding to further heartache for fans of the Schumachers, Mick lost his F1 seat at the Haas team at the end of 2022.
      He was replaced by F1 journeyman Nico Hulkenberg – and will have sit out 2023 as a reserve driver at Mercedes behind Sir Lewis and his hotshot teammate George Russell.
      Drive to Survive charts Mick’s difficult sophomore season in 2022 – including his horror 170mph accident in Saudi Arabia.
      Mick’s rough year saw him outscored by his teammate, the returning Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen.
      The show outlines Mick’s struggles – and the pressure that came with racing under the name “Schumacher”.
      “Mick has the lineage of one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen,” says F1 journalist Will Buxton.
      “But it remains to be seen if [he] has the same character as his dad.”
      Haas boss Steiner said the Schumacher name was “blessing and a curse” for Mick.
      But in characteristically non-nonsense fashion, the famously foul-mouthed team principal says at some point the young German will have “stand up” and be his “own man”.
      Mick opens up about his struggles with pressure in the show, including the candid admission that “dreams don’t always come true”.
      His dad Michael is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, dominating the sport in the early 2000s after rising to power in the 90s.
      He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act of his career which saw him become instrumental in setting up the dominant Mercedes team.
      The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
      Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident while on the slopes with Mick.
      He was left in a medically induced coma before being released home and then ever since it has been near silence on the driver’s condition.
      His family, led by wife Corinna, closely protect Michael’s privacy and offer him a quiet life.
      Read More on The Sun
      Since then there have only been hints and cryptic rumours about Schumacher’s health with drip fed information from friends and unnamed sources.
      But the only people who know for sure are Schumacher’s family and his closest pals.
      Max Verstappen is a two time world champion – winning in 2021 and 2022Credit: Getty
      Mick will be Mercedes reserve driver in 2023 – backing up Lewis Hamilton and George RussellCredit: Twitter More