IT is always telling when someone gives praise and then pauses before adding ‘but…’.And so to the words of Gene Haas whose Hass F1 Team will compete in their home race – the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas – this weekend.
Haas F1 team owner Gene Haas (centre) is looking forward to seeing them compete in Texas this weekendCredit: Getty
Haas had been asked about the situation with Mick Schumacher, who is out of contract at the end of the season with rumours rife he will be ditched for 2023.
Hass said: “I think Mick has got a lot of potential…. but, you know, he costs a fortune and he’s wrecked a lot of cars that have cost us a lot of money that we just don’t have” Ouch.
It seems inconceivable to think Schumacher, 23, the son of seven-times world champion Michael, 53, is fighting for his career after less than two seasons in F1.
Particularly when you remember that in 2021, Haas spent little money developing that car and instead ploughed the majority of their efforts into their challenger for this year.
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In his rookie season, he comfortably got the better of his team-mate, the hapless Russian racer Nikita Mazipin, who was eventually axed.
But the unfortunate reality for Schumacher is he is simply unable to turn in the error-free and stand-out performances his father was noted for during his early career.
He has always maintained his surname is a blessing and hindrance in that it no doubt opened doors that would have remained closed to others, such as his place in the Ferrari driver academy.
But it has also brought a level of public interest and, of course, expectation.
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You only need to look at the stunted sports careers of Diego Sinagra, the son of Diego Maradona, and Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus, to witness how that burden limits performance.
The harsh reality is Schumacher has not been consistently good enough against his current team-mate, Kevin Magnussen, and there have been the aforementioned crashes.
He had big ones in Saudi Arabia and Monaco, plus last time out in Japan too – and Haas cannot afford for such errors.
He now has the final four races to score enough points to convince Haas he deserves another chance in 2023.
Meanwhile, his manager – interestingly the same one as his father employed towards the end of his racing career – is working on the potential for a switch to Williams – if the Haas option falls through.
Schumacher now faces a crucial period if he is to remain in F1, as Williams are keen on American Logan Sargeant, providing he secures enough super licence points from his final races in F2.
Brown blasts cost-cap breakers
F1’s cost cap row will rumble on at this week’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.
McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown has written to the FIA where he says teams caught breaking the budget cap “constitutes cheating”.
Brown is one of a number of team bosses who are unhappy that Red Bull breached the spending limit.
The FIA are yet to determine their punishment for the ‘minor’ breach, which is an amount of less than five percent (£5.7million) of the total £114million available.
However, Brown has taken preemptive steps to ensure the FIA come down hard on any team who broke the rules.
“The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations,” Brown is quoted as saying in his letter.
Lando’s on song for Max
LANDO NORRIS is having a go at being a DJ and recently performed at a party to celebrate Max Verstappen’s world crown.
Videos have emerged across social media showing Norris taking to the decks in Monaco, where both drivers live.
Max Verstappen celebrated his 2022 world title win with pal Lando NorrisCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Big hitters in NASCAR
NETFLIX might want to take a look at the fisticuffs in NASCAR if they want to have more action in F1.
Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson tangled on track in Las Vegas and matters spilled over into the infield.
Wallace was livid at being taken out of the race by Larson and confronted him, shoving him a few times in the chest before matters had to be calmed down.
MotoGP looks in the Bag
IT has been an incredible few months since Francesco Bagnaia crashed a car after a few drinks in Ibiza.
The MotoGP rider has won three times, finished second once and his two third-place finishes in Thailand and Australia have moved him to the top of the championship.
The Ducati ace can win the title at the next round in Malaysia. More
