Schumacher joins McLaren's reserve driver pool ahead of 2023 season

McLaren have announced that they have reached an agreement with Mercedes which will see them add Mick Schumacher to their pool of reserve drivers for the 2023 season.

Schumacher joined Mercedes as a reserve driver in December last year, after two seasons racing at Haas – where he scored 12 points in 43 starts – with the American team opting against renewing his contract for the 2023 campaign and replacing him with compatriot Nico Hulkenberg.

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This means Schumacher joins IndyCar champion Alex Palou in McLaren’s list of reserve drivers for the 2023 season, with the German able to step in if one of Lando Norris or the papaya team’s new recruit Oscar Piastri is unable to take part in a race weekend.

Earlier this week, Mercedes shared images of the 23-year-old former Formula 2 champion having a seat fit with the eight-time constructors’ champions, should he have to fill in for one of Lewis Hamilton or George Russell and for any potential testing duties.

McLaren have now also shared an image of Schumacher getting accustomed to their cockpit and getting the seat moulded around him in Woking, so the German will be ready to step in if needed.

It means Schumacher will be on hand for the squad led by new Team Principal Andrea Stella, who was his father Michael's Performance Engineer at Ferrari from 2002 to 2006 – during which time they won three drivers' titles together.

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