It’s the highlight of the week in F1, a few days before the last race of the year, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prixand the closing of the 2022 season next Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit: Mick Schumacher will leave Haas at the end of this season.

​This was announced by the American team itself through its social networks: “Haas F1 Team and Mick Schumacher will part ways at the conclusion of the FIA ​​​​F1 World Championship in 2022. We would like to thank Mick for his contributions to the team over the past two seasons,” the post read.

The post is linked to a press release in which the director of the team, Guenther Steiner, Recognizes the qualities of German: “Mick has grown and developed as a rider during his time with Haas, culminating in his first successes earlier this season. “Choosing to go in separate directions, the entire team wishes him the best in the next steps of his career,” he concluded.

He reached the top category of motorsport in 2021 after being F2 champion the previous season. He scored his first points of the year at Silverstone with an eighth place, followed by a sixth place at the following race in Austria, but has not scored since and contributed less than a third of Haas’ total points, with the North American team, eighth in the constructors’ championship.

“This will be my last race with Haas and I won’t hide that I am very disappointed by the decision not to renew our contract”. said the son of the legend, who added that “I would like to thank both Haas and Ferrari for giving me this opportunity, as these years together have helped me mature both technically and personally and, when things got tough, I They helped me understand how much I love this sport.”

Soon after the announcement, his replacement was confirmed: Niko Hulkenberg, The 35-year-old former Force India and Renault driver returns to the big motorsport scene after four years without a starring role.

He has made five substitute appearances, most recently for Sebastian Vettel earlier this year, and has amassed 181 Grands Prix, driving for Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point and Aston Martin, as well as being a reserve driver for Aston Martin for the last two seasons.

He scored 521 points, with a career best fourth place (3 times), plus a pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix in his 2010 rookie season for Williams.

“I am very happy to be moving to racing full-time with Haas. I feel like I’ve never really left Formula 1 and I’m thrilled to have the chance to get back to doing what I love most. I want to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for their trust,” he stresses Hulkenberg in the official note, which confirms that after the Abu Dhabi race he will start his tests with Haas together with reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi.

Drivers confirmed for the 2023 season

• Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
• Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
• Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
• Alpine: Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
• McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
• Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
• Haas: Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg.
• AlfaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries.
• Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
• williams: Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant.