In a Sprint Race that gave very few emotions, it was Mick Schumacher who enlivened the audience at home and in the stands.
The German driver, fresh from the first points in Formula 1 obtained last weekend at Silverstone, also in Austria managed to shine since Friday when he finished the qualifying session, obtaining the eighth time just 1 tenth behind his teammate. Kevin Magnussen, to then close the Sprint Race in ninth position at the end of an exciting duel with Lewis Hamilton.
Schumacher has long kept behind him a seven-time world champion eager for redemption after the mistake he made in Q3 on Friday that forced him to start from ninth place.
Despite a much more powerful Mercedes W13 than the Haas, Mick was able to withstand Hamilton’s pressure by also exploiting the DRS.
When Mick, however, passed beyond the second delay from Magnussen, thus losing the possibility of using the mobile wing, he understood that his destiny was sealed. Hamilton, thanks to the DRS, managed to get the better of the German and get the last point available by improving his starting position for tomorrow’s race by one box.
At the end of the Sprint Race it was expected to see a satisfied Mick once he reached the interview ring and instead the Haas driver seemed quite upset. The reason? The lack of intervention of the wall to allow the exchange of positions with Magnussen.
“I think we had the speed to attack Esteban, but the team decided not to do it and not to let me pass. It is something we need to analyze. I have to understand if they thought I was unable or otherwise ”.
“In the end we lost a position to Lewis for this reason. I could have attacked and they didn’t let me pass ”.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-22, Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-22, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Despite the bitterness at not being listened to by the team, Mick then wanted to talk about the long duel with Hamilton that revived an otherwise monotonous and flat Sprint Race.
“I don’t care who I have to defend myself against to maintain my position, I’ll keep the same behavior with anyone.”
Partially dispelled the disappointment of having left the points, Schumacher wanted to look at the glass half full, highlighting the progress made by Haas in the last two weekends.
“It was nice to see we had the pace. We have shown that we are strong and it is positive ”.
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