It was an unsatisfactory end to an unsatisfactory season for Mick Schumacher who was barred from his Haas team from burning up some rubber at the end of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Schumacher clocked in P16, just ahead of teammate Kevin Magnussen, at the end of F1's season finale at Yas Marina.
The young German then hoped to join his good friend Sebastian Vettel in celebrating the latter by performing some donuts for the fans with his VF-22.
However, Schumacher was immediately called to order by Haas' trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu.
"Sorry, Mick, can you stop doing donuts, please? Seriously. I’m sorry, Mick, but we just can’t, sorry," said Komatsu.
A likely despondent Schumacher quipped back: "It’s alright, Ayao. Love you too!"
Haas has opted not to renew Schumacher's contract for 2023 and chosen instead to sign up F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg as Kevin Magnussen's teammate, with the US outfit relying on the pair's vast experience to hopefully boost its results.
Schumacher therefore won't be on the grid next season, but the 23-year-old who is expected to also lose Ferrari's support is being considered for a reserve role with Mercedes.
"Mick is someone who has always been close to our heart because of Michael and the whole Schumacher family," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff last weekend.
"He is an intelligent, well-mannered young man, he has been very successful in the junior formulas.
"We believe we can look after him if the situation were to happen and with someone that just fits the team.
"But we haven’t put pen to paper and we haven’t come anywhere close to any terms.
"I am saying that openly because I think he just fits and now we need to make it happen if he wants to and Sabine [Kehm, manager] wants to, and we see where it goes to."
Schumacher revealed that Mercedes was indeed part of his options for 2023.
"Mercedes is an awesome brand, genuinely, what they have achieved in Formula 1 is incredible," said the 23-year-old driver.
"So you know I’m going to see my options, and Mercedes is part of that.
"I have time now so I’ll consider all the options that I have to then hopefully make the right decision for me.
"It’s definitely very humbling to hear what Mercedes and especially Toto says about me."
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