Haas may have chosen to get rid of Mick Schumacher after growing tired of constant complaints from his entourage, Martin Brundle has suggested.
The American team announced this week they have signed Nico Hulkenberg to race alongside Kevin Magnussen next season. That leaves Schumacher out in the cold and without a race seat for 2023, putting his Formula 1 future into some doubt.
Some members of his family and entourage have been critical of Haas team boss Guenther Steiner in recent times, most notably his uncle Ralf Schumacher. Sky F1 pundit Brundle believes this may have had an impact on Haas' driver decision.
"They have gone for the security of experience – Mick crashed too many cars," said the former F1 racer, before adding: "I think the team were fed up of Mick's entourage and all the pressures that came with that.
"He has been dropped by Ferrari as well, so it's difficult times for him. Mick will pop up somewhere else. I think he's worthy of a place on the grid – maybe in a reserve role, treading water. Haas want that experience and confidence rather than trying to bring young guns in, which hasn't worked for them."
Meanwhile, his fellow pundit and 1996 champion Damon Hill said he felt sorry for Schumacher. "I do, a bit. He got off to a false start with the teammate he had before Kevin. A few big shunts cost him his drive, because it cost the team so much money.
"If Mick gets a reserve role he will learn more and be ready to go again." Schumacher did not finish his Haas career the way he would have wanted, as he failed to score points in Abu Dhabi. To make matters worse, he caused a collision which saw both himself and Nicholas Latifi spin off the track.
The pundits also gave their verdicts on another man who will not be on the grid next year. "I can't see him in a reserve role," said Brundle of Daniel Ricciardo. "It would be soul-destroying for him! But I'm sure he would want to keep a link with a team somewhere."
That does, indeed, seem to be the plan for the Aussie. Helmut Marko announced this weekend that he has agreed to return to Red Bull as a reserve driver for 2023, but soon after it was revealed that he had jumped the gun somewhat and, although he is expected to sign a contract, Ricciardo has yet to put pen to paper.
