How Mick Schumacher experienced Formula 1 qualifying at Spa and how big the handicap really was after the technical problems in the third free practice session
Fifteenth on track but 20th on the grid: an engine penalty ruins a solid qualifying for Mick Schumacher at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. For the Haas driver was, according to his own statement, “positively surprised” to have made it through the first segment. However, because he is using surplus drive components, he has to go to the very back.
But Schumacher is not downhearted about it. On the contrary: “It went better than expected,” says the German. “We had actually expected to be eliminated in Q1.”
And it was very close: Schumacher only beat his German compatriot Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin by 0.002 seconds in Q1, who was eliminated in 16th place already in Q1. Schumacher, in turn, was allowed to continue in qualifying, but without gaining any positions.
Why Q2 was the end of the line for Schumacher
But the Haas driver has an explanation for that: “In Q2 we tried a few new things, because it would have been a miracle if we had made it into Q3. But the things we tried didn’t work.” All in all, Schumacher says, his conclusion is still “positive”.
He refers to the third free practice session, in which he “didn’t drive much” due to technical problems and says: “On Friday evening, I had completed my last lap with little fuel. So I came into qualifying not knowing what to expect. The track was completely different. But my impression is that we managed quite well. “
Praise and criticism from team boss Steiner for Schumacher
Haas team boss Günther Steiner also sees it that way. He praises Schumacher for his “very good” effort in Q1, “even without qualifying simulation in the third free practice session. “
However, Steiner would have expected a bit more from Schumacher in Q2: “He braked in turn 1 and that was the end of it,” Steiner said. “On the one hand I’m surprised to have got this far, but on the other hand I’m obviously disappointed to have the performance but not to put it into practice. “
Magnussen admits to “a few mistakes “
The latter is also to be understood as criticism of Schumacher’s team-mate Kevin Magnussen, who in 18th place had already had to retire in Q1. Steiner: “Kevin braked in turn 8 in Q1 and then went into turn 12 or 13 too fast. That dropped him out.”
Magnussen himself admits to “a few mistakes” on his part, saying, “Unfortunately, everyone seems to have stepped it up again, so it would have come down to the second lap. I don’t know if we would have had the speed. “
Compared to Schumacher, Magnussen lost 0.215 seconds to the sister car in Q1, handing himself his third straight qualifying defeat after Melbourne and Miami. But because of Schumacher’s penalty, Magnussen will still start ahead of his Haas colleague.
Steiner sees chances of points in race
“Hopefully we’ll have better pace in the race,” said the Dane. “There always seem to be chances at Spa. I’m looking forward to that.”
Steiner thinks similarly and attests that Magnussen, coming from P12, “still has a chance of scoring points”, while it is likely to be far trickier for Schumacher, coming from P20. Tenor: “Catching up is difficult, but never say never.”
Schumacher, on the other hand, is not expecting an overtaking show in the Haas VF-22. Reason: “Our top speed is not that great. Overtaking will probably be difficult for us. Nevertheless, our pace on the long runs wasn’t bad. If we can get everything together, we should be able to keep up.”
“Compared to other cars, I think we have more drag. But yeah, we have to live with what we have. We got into Q2 after all,” said Schumacher. “That means we beat some faster cars. Hopefully we can move up [in the race as well]. “
