Hamilton faster in Monza: Williams team boss: Schumacher “is not special”

Hamilton fastest in Monza
Williams team boss: Schumacher “is not special”

30.08.2024, 19:15

Mick Schumacher still doesn't have a cockpit in Formula 1 and Williams team boss James Vowles has now come forward to explain why he decided against the German: Schumacher is just good, but not special. Meanwhile, there is a clash in the F1 training in Monza, with Hamilton winning while Verstappen continues to falter.

Williams team boss James Vowles has explained why he decided against Mick Schumacher and in favour of Argentinian Formula 1 rookie Franco Colapinto after the dismissal of his driver Logan Sargeant. “I think Mick would have done a good job,” said Vowles during his media round in Monza. But Schumacher, like Colapinto, only falls “into the category of 'good' but 'not special' – we have to be completely honest about that.”

The key difference between the 25-year-old Schumacher, who was a regular driver for Haas in Formula 1 in 2021 and 2022, and Colapinto Liège, four years younger than him, in the Argentine's Williams past. Colapinto, most recently in Formula 2, has “done hundreds, maybe thousands of laps in our simulator. He has already driven the car in a free practice session this year. And based on the data, he is making significant progress.” The decision was therefore made to “invest in the future rather than in another driver.”

After Williams had kicked out the accident-prone American Sargeant after another serious crash in Zandvoort last weekend, Mercedes substitute driver Schumacher was a serious candidate for the race until the end of the season alongside Colapinto and Red Bull junior Liam Lawson. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz are already set to join Williams in 2025. Colapinto, who brought a major sponsor with him, also has finally reached his time in the team's front row.

Wolff: “Will have chosen words wisely”

“James is a bright mind. He will have chosen his words wisely,” said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff about his former chief strategist Vowles, and spoke up for Schumacher: “Mick has won Formula 2, 3 and 4. He has been absolutely crushed in the Haas environment. We haven't seen everything from him yet. But every team has to make the best decisions for itself. Vowles certainly noticed a development in Mick Schumacher. The son of record world champion Michael Schumacher has “improved greatly compared to his time at Haas.” Schumacher is “a competent driver” who has done “incredible work for Alpine, Mercedes and McLaren.”

Best time by Lewis Hamilton, spectacular crash by Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes has won the Ferrari home race in Monza (Race on Sunday, 3 p.m./RTL and Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de) stood out in every respect and the World Championship duel between Max Verstappen and pursuer Lando Norris was pushed somewhat into the background, at least on Friday.

Formula 1 record world champion Hamilton, who will be assured of the support of the Tifosi in Italy next year as a Ferrari driver, was the fastest of the day in 1:20.738 minutes in the summer heat – but only three thousandths of a second ahead of McLaren driver Norris, who has been in the lead at the latest since his impressive Zandvoort victory last week, has made the World Championship more exciting again.

Verstappen continues to weaken

Defending champion Max Verstappen in the apparently still weakening Red Bull had to settle for 14th place, but the world championship leader (70 points ahead of Norris) also failed to set a fast lap. Nico Hülkenberg, on the other hand, impressed in seventh place in the Haas. The Argentinian Franco Colapinto, who was preferred over Mick Schumacher at Williams as the successor to the sacked Logan Sargeant, reached 17th place.

The number one topic of conversation on Friday, however, was Antonelli's first Formula 1 training session. After ten minutes, the 18-year-old Italian's session was over after a violent crash; his Silver Arrow hit the side of the tire wall at high speed in the Parabolica curve.

Antonelli, who is now considered the top favorite to succeed Hamilton at Mercedes, immediately apologized. The teenager was able to get out of his destroyed car under his own power.