Hakkinen states that the F1 'door' remains open for Mick Schumacher.

      "He just needs to identify the right individuals to engage with."

      By GMM

      8 March 2025 - 12:07

      Mick Schumacher's career in Formula 1 might not be entirely finished, according to Mika Hakkinen. Over two decades ago, the two-time champion Hakkinen famously raced against Mick's father, Michael, for the world titles. During the announcement of the Laureus award nominees on Monday, the 56-year-old Finnish driver emphasized that Mick, who is currently concentrating on the WEC after losing his Haas seat in 2022, still has the potential to return to F1.

      "He has experience in Formula 1, experience in various categories, and he is young. All of these are positives," Hakkinen shared with Sport1. However, he noted that Mick's initial two-year stint in the sport concluded due to significant mistakes. "Formula 1 is an incredibly demanding environment. If you make three or four errors and damage the car, it's not just bad luck for the team," remarked the former McLaren racer. "Teams dislike that. They don't appreciate spending large sums on repairs for your vehicle."

      "Mick has encountered several issues that have significantly impacted his career. Nonetheless, he still has the opportunity to come back. The door is open. He merely needs to find the right individuals to speak with." Hakkinen acknowledged that the younger Schumacher might have had a different experience during the early years of his career in Hakkinen's time.

      "When I was racing, I took increasing risks in Formula 1 and crashed too," he reflected. "But back then, I had team managers who supported me. As a driver, you aim to extract the maximum and take risks."

      "The team managers didn’t tell me to drive cautiously and safely reach the finish line. They encouraged me to accelerate! However, nowadays there are different structures, varied budgets, and less money available. The funds used for repairs cannot be allocated for further car development," Hakkinen concluded. He also stated in an interview with France’s L’Equipe newspaper that McLaren driver Lando Norris possesses "everything necessary to become a champion" in 2025.