Harshvardhan Thakur
Haas has officially announced the decision on the vacant seat with Nico Hulkenberg joining the team in 2023.
The much-awaited news for the 2023 Formula 1 season is now finally confirmed. Nico Hulkenberg will grab which is arguably the last seat of the upcoming season. The German is set to join forces with Kevin Magnussen in Haas.
This news comes following months of speculations around the future of Mick Schumacher in F1.
Schumacher joined the American side last season. This year was his only second full-time season as a permanent driver in F1. Regardless, the team has decided to move over to the German sacking him in 2023. Schumacher and Haas failed miserably in their first season together. The team failed to score even a single point last year.
This season was better for Schumacher and Haas. The German joined forces with returning Kevin Magnussen and managed to score his first-ever points in Formula 1. Schumacher currently sits in 16th position with 12 points to his name.
The major reasons for the sacking are believed to be the costs and inconsistency of Mick Schumacher.
Steiner thanks the departing Schumacher
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner released a statement thanking the 23-year-old German for his contributions to the team:
“I would like to thank Mick Schumacher for his contribution to the team over the past couple of years,” said Guenther Steiner.
“Mick’s pedigree in the junior categories was well known and he has continued to grow and develop as a driver in his time with Haas F1 Team – culminating in his first Formula 1 points-scoring success earlier this season.
“While choosing to go in separate directions for the future the entire team wishes Mick well for the next steps in his career path and beyond.”
Mick Schumacher also gave his response to the decision saying he was “disappointed”. Regardless the German thanked his team for the time they spent together in Formula 1:
I don’t want to hide the fact that I am very disappointed about the decision not to renew our contract. Nevertheless, I would like to thank both Haas and Ferrari for giving me this opportunity. Those years together have helped me mature both technically and personally. And especially when things got difficult, I realized how much I love this sport.
“It was at times bumpy but I steadily improved, learned a lot, and now know for sure that I deserve a place in Formula 1. The subject is anything but closed for me. Setbacks only make you stronger.
“My fire burns for Formula 1 and I will fight hard to return to the starting grid.”
Hulkenberg secures his return to the grid
Nico Hulkenberg was very happy hearing the news saying he “felt like he never left”. The German earlier left the sport in 2019 after being sacked by Renault.
“I’m very happy to move into a full-time race seat with Haas in 2023. I feel like I never really left Formula 1,” said Hülkenberg.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again and want to thank Gene Haas and Günther Steiner for their trust. We have work ahead of us to be able to compete with all the other teams in the midfield, and I cannot wait to join that battle again.”
Team boss Steiner also welcomed Nico Hulkenberg to the side:
“The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see – with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 – and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer.
“These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin’s experience, give us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid.
“That’s obviously the goal and it was that ambition that has prompted Nico’s return to Formula 1 – he shares our vision and can be a key player together with the rest of the team in building on the foundations we’ve laid this year with our return to the points battle.”
Nico Hulkenberg will be joining Haas for 2023 is clear but what remains unclear is the future of Mick Schumacher. Where will the German head next?
For more F1 updates, follow us on Twitter.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings