Yahoo Autos Mick Schumacher to Drive Father's Mercedes F1 at Goodwood
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher is officially slated to take on the hill climb during the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed next month behind the wheel of his father’s W02 racer from 2011.
The younger Schumacher joined Mercedes’ F1 efforts as a reserve driver earlier this year, after a two-year stint with the folks over at Haas. The family is no stranger to the brand, as Mick's father, Michael Schumacher, the seven-time World Champion, did a brief stint with the team from 2010-2012 after his initial retirement. This particular W02 model is only the second racer designed by Mercedes after acquiring its team in 2009. The car wasn’t the most successful entrant in recent Mercedes memory, finishing fourth overall in the Constructors’ Championship with Michael and Nico Rosberg driving. Mick has previously spent time behind the wheel of his father’s Benetton B194, and all of his championship Ferraris from 2002-2004.
“It’s going to be spectacular to run in my Dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run,” Schumacher said during the announcement. “Just experiencing this generation of cars will be mega! Knowing that he raced this car makes it extra special, and there will be many emotions coming with it. I have been lucky enough to drive one of his Benetton cars and some of the Ferraris he raced, but this will be the first time behind the wheel of a Mercedes he drove. I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”
The W02 won’t be the only bit of Mercedes’ F1 history on display during the Goodwood festivities. Driver Esteban Gutiérrez is slated to run up the hill in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas W12 racer. This is the very car that propelled Mercedes to its eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship in 2021, with teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas dominating the grid. The W12 secured nine victories and 19 podium finishes en route to the title.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place from July 14-16 on the house grounds. Visitors will have a chance to get up close with these historic F1 cars on both Saturday and Sunday, so long as you have access to the pit area. Tickets to the event are still available on the Goodwood website, though more details about Mercedes-AMG’s plans are still to come.
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