Ralf Schumacher: Haas will realize, no alternative to Mick

Mick Schumacher's F1 future is still uncertain, but the young German is under pressure to improve and cut down on the costly errors and crashes, and do that in the final four races if he is to stand a chance of remaining with the U.S. team in 2023, based on what team owner Gene Haas said.

Haas team boss, Guenther Steiner has been vocally critical of Schumacher, who in the United States Grand Prix last weekend, finished the race 14th fastest benefitting from Fernando Alonso's post-race penalty that dropped the Spaniard to 15th.

But Ralf Schumacher, Mick's uncle defended him after his performance in Austin, insisting the Haas driver showed strong race pace.

He said in his German Sky Sports column: "Mick, meanwhile, has proven again that he brings a strong race pace. In Austin he was super strong and ahead of Kevin Magnussen for a long time.

"But then things went backwards," he added. "But Guenther Steiner assessed the situation properly. He said that Mick was very fast for a long time, but then his race became difficult for various reasons. He came to Mick's defense, which I think was great.

"Mick has done everything he needs to do to continue driving for Haas in Formula 1 in 2023," Ralf claimed. "Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner will also think about it properly and then realize that there is no alternative to Mick.

"Daniel Ricciardo isn't one, and Nico Hülkenberg is more likely to retire than tearing trees down again. Based on his performance and improvements this year, you can see how much potential is still to be expected from Mick.

"Accordingly, there is no alternative to him," the winner of six grands prix maintained.

Ralf however was cautious, and admitted that his nephew might be considering a reserve role for 2023 should events not go his way.

"Of course, it's always conceivable that Mick, like Ricciardo, could become a reserve driver for another team in the coming season and then get a regular cockpit again in 2024," he wrote.

"But it would of course be better and more important for his development if he were to sit in a Formula 1 cockpit all the time, and above all, Mick will then be entering his third year in F1, and the car has been very well developed.

"Because of the cost cap, the other teams won't be making any huge leaps either. Continuity would therefore be important for both parties, because 2023 would be the year when they could reap the fruits of their own labor and celebrate even greater successes together," Ralf Schumacher maintained.