Esteban Ocon believes Mick Schumacher deserves another chance in Formula 1 after his failed two-year stint at Haas, with the Mercedes reserve one of the drivers rumoured to replace Lewis Hamilton after his departure for Ferrari.
Schumacher failed to build on a somewhat promising first season in F1 in 2022, partnering Kevin Magnussen for the Dane’s last-minute return to the team and ending the season with less than half the points of Magnussen.
He also had several heavy and high-profile crashes but after a year on the sidelines at Brackley, he’ll now combine his Mercedes testing duties with a full-time Alpine drive in car #36 of the World Endurance Championship.
“Yes,” Ocon told media including Total-Motorsport.com at Alpine‘s F1 and WEC launch. “He does deserve a place in Formula 1, that is clear. Because he’s proved, he’s Formula 3 champion, Formula 2 champion.
“He’s had two years in the back of the midfield car, you need time to prove yourself in F1, learn things and for sure he deserves a seat in F1. He’s one of the most talented drivers out there and for sure deserves it.”
In his junior career, Schumacher showed a tendency to come good in his sophomore year of a series, as he finished 12th in both European F3 and F2 before winning both championships a year later, but his first year at Haas was somewhat wasted in an uncompetitive car alongside Mazepin.
