Mick Schumacher, son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, has opened up about the profound changes in his relationship with his father following the catastrophic skiing accident that has left the seven-time world champion out of the public eye for over a decade.
In December 2013, Michael Schumacher was involved in a near-fatal accident while skiing in the French Alps, which left him with a serious brain injury. At the time, Mick, then just 14 years old, was by his father’s side. Since then, the family has remained fiercely protective of Michael’s privacy, and details of his health have been kept under wraps. The world has not seen the iconic F1 driver in public since, with only close family and friends granted access to him.
In a rare interview for the book Inside Mercedes F1, Mick, now 25 and a driver for Alpine in the FIA World Endurance Championship, spoke candidly about growing up with a father who was not only a global sporting icon but also a deeply influential figure in his life and career.
Growing Up Under the Shadow of a Racing Legend
Mick remembers his childhood as being heavily influenced by his father’s success and work ethic. “I was a crazy kid – everything my dad did, I did,” Mick confessed. From an early age, his passion for racing was clear. He started karting at just three years old, then went on to try other extreme activities, with his father’s encouragement. “He was always very open to me trying out whatever I wanted to do, and racing is all I wanted to do because I enjoyed it the most.”
Despite his father’s intense global fame, Mick remembers him as a supportive and fun father, albeit one who also had high expectations. Mick recalls a pivotal moment during a karting race when he braked late into a corner and gained significant time. His father’s response was a mixture of praise and challenge: “Yes, but you should have braked like that in every corner!” Mick also remembers his father’s occasional tough love. “He would say, ‘Mick, would you rather go and play football with your friends? If so, we do not need to do all of this.’ I insisted that I wanted to race, and he said, ‘Okay, then let’s do it properly.’”
With his father’s encouragement, Mick’s racing career began to flourish, with more opportunities in European karting, and he showed early promise as a rising talent in motorsport.
A Sudden Shift After the Accident
However, everything changed after the accident in December 2013. Mick’s father’s injuries meant that, while his family shielded him from the public eye, Mick was left to forge his own path in racing.
“I started racing in the Formula classes the year after [the accident], and from then on I had to do it all on my own,” Mick explained. “But I definitely learned a lot of technical points from him that I still use today, as well as from his coaching.” While Mick’s career progressed in the absence of his father’s direct involvement, the lessons and principles Michael had instilled in him remained deeply ingrained.
Mick’s resilience, both physically and mentally, is another trait he credits to his father. “I have always been very resilient,” he shared. “Whenever I got hurt, I would jump back on, and I am still like that, in fact.”
Following in Father’s Footsteps: Formula 1 and Beyond
Mick’s racing journey continued, and he eventually made his Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2021, driving for the Haas F1 Team. Despite a challenging start and finishing 16th in his debut race, Mick’s career trajectory was on the rise. However, his time with Haas was short-lived, and in late 2022, Ferrari announced that they would be ending their relationship with him.
Now, Mick serves as a reserve driver for Mercedes, where he continues to hone his skills in the highly competitive world of Formula 1. Despite the challenges of following in the footsteps of one of the sport’s greatest-ever drivers, Mick is determined to carve out his own legacy while keeping his father’s influence close.
The Continuing Mystery of Michael Schumacher
As the world continues to hope for more insight into Michael Schumacher’s condition, Mick’s openness about the impact of his father’s accident offers a rare glimpse into the Schumacher family’s resilience. While Mick’s journey is very much his own, it’s clear that the bond between father and son is unbreakable, even if their roles in the sport have shifted dramatically over the years.
Despite years of silence and secrecy surrounding his father’s condition, recent reports have sparked hope among fans. In September 2024, it was revealed that Michael attended his daughter Gina-Marie’s wedding in Majorca, giving a glimmer of hope to those who have longed to see the F1 icon again. But, for now, the Schumacher family’s privacy remains a priority, and the world will continue to wait for the next chapter in Michael Schumacher’s story.
For Mick, the journey continues—one where he must rely on the technical knowledge and personal fortitude passed down by a father who, though absent, remains a constant source of inspiration.
