'He costs a fortune' - Mick Schumacher given brutal warning by Haas owner with his F1 future in serious doubt
Haas F1 owner Gene Haas has warned Mick Schumacher he "needs to bring some points" or will lose his seat for next season after costing the team "a fortune".
Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, has raced for Haas for the last two seasons but is out of contract for 2023.
He is currently 16th in the driver standings going into this weekend's United States Grand Prix, having picked up just 12 points this season – almost half of what his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen has managed (22).
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Schumacher suffered a heavy crash at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March before splitting his car in half in another huge collision at the Monaco Grand Prix in May.
He crashed again in the last round at the Japanese Grand Prix, colliding with a barrier while returning to the pits at the end of a wet first practice session.
Haas has warned Schumacher he could lose his seat if he doesn't deliver in the final four races of the season, starting at Austin, Texas this weekend.
"In this sport, being kind of a rookie driver, the sport just doesn't allow it - it's just too expensive," Haas told the Associated Press.
"If you make any mistakes in driver selection, or strategy, or tyre selection, it is costing you millions of dollars.
"I think Mick has got a lot of potential, but you know he costs a fortune and he's wrecked a lot of cars that have cost us a lot of money that we just don't have.
"Now, if you bring us some points, and you are [Max] Verstappen and you wreck cars, we'll deal with it.
"But when you are in the back and you wreck cars, that's very difficult."
When asked what Schumacher needs to achieve this season to remain with the team, Haas added: "Well, if he wins the next one, he's in.
"Somewhere in between there is a grey area."
Haas is one of two teams yet to confirm its driver line-up for the 2023 season, with Williams the other.
Topics: Formula 1, Haas F1 Team, Michael Schumacher, Mick Schumacher
Rory O'Callaghan