Schumacher set for Friday sim duties with Mercedes

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Mick Schumacher is set to double his reserve driver role with Mercedes with sim work at Brackley on European Grand Prix weekends.

Schumacher was picked up by Mercedes after he was left without a race seat for 2023 after two seasons with Haas.

The 24-year-old is attending all F1 races this year embedded with his new team and ready to step in to substitute for Lewis Hamilton or George Russell if necessary.

Furthermore, the young gun is also conducting development work in Mercedes' simulator at Brackley.

However, according to Auto Motor und Sport, from next month's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Schumacher will be on sim duty at the team's base on Fridays to help facilitate Mercedes' set-up work for the benefit of its drivers.

The German will then fly in the evening to the venue where he'll assume his reserve drive role for the remainder of the weekend.

Schumacher is not only Mercedes' official back-up, the German can also be called upon by McLaren to substitute for either one of its drivers if circumstances require it.

Read also: Schumacher 'shocked' by insider view of Mercedes

Schumacher has already been put to contribution by Mercedes this season, having spent hours in the simulator in preparation for F1's upcoming fly-away races in Baku and in Miami.

Asked recently about his impressions of Mercedes' sim hardware, the young German said that he hopes to spend as much time as possible in the team's virtual system.

"Because it's just so advanced," he said. "I've been pushing to do more.

"It's not enough for me just to sit on the sidelines, I want to help wherever I can. Of course it's not the reality and I would like to drive the real W14!"

Schumacher may soon get his wish as Mercedes is set to take part in a tyre test for Pirelli at the Circuit de Catalunya in June after the Spanish Grand Prix.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.