Guenther Steiner sends warning to Mick Schumacher as ex-Haas driver faces key career decision

Guenther Steiner has offered a word of warning to his former Haas driver Mick Schumacher as the German weighs up whether to stay in IndyCar next season.

Schumacher, who drove for Haas in F1 between 2021 and 2022, moved to the US at the beginning of this season when he signed for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

In the past, some ex-Formula 1 drivers joining the IndyCar Series have opted to take on a reduced schedule in their first season to exclude oval races.

But Schumacher has taken a different approach, deciding to compete in every race so far this season - including the iconic Indianapolis 500.

His best race finish so far this season has come on an oval, with the German crossing the line in 16th at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in Illnois.

In Detroit, though, he was running in third place and on course for a maiden IndyCar podium when he outbraked himself and ran into the barrier on a restart with 28 laps to go.

When Schumacher's arrival in IndyCar was announced, it was confirmed that he had signed a contract for the full 2026 season - with no mention of future seasons.

As yet, there is no announcement of the 27-year-old's plans for 2027, and it remains to be seen whether he will have a second campaign in the RLL car.

'It doesn't work like that...' - Steiner on Schumacher's IndyCar dilemma

Steiner, who worked in the States when he was director of NASCAR's Team Red Bull between 2006 and 2008, believes that Schumacher has needed 'a year of learning' in IndyCar due to the 'unique' nature of the series compared to F1 - but has issued a word of warning about next season.

"Moving to a different race series is always difficult for these guys," Steiner told SPORTbible (via 247Bet). "We all think that, if you have been to F1, you can drive everything and be fast. But it doesn't work like this.

"It doesn't work that, if you drive an IndyCar fast, going to Formula 1, it isn't said that straight away you get an impact, because they are all unique disciplines. They are very specific these days. It's not like the old days, where it was a lot less defined or a lot less specialised race series.

"So for Mick, going there, I think he needs a year of learning, and the truth will come out next year about how good he can do.

"I think if he's got a bad season next year, I think it's difficult to stay in a series like this because it's quite a high-profile series. But we need to give him a year to show that he learns the ropes there.

"I would say to Mick, just learn your surroundings, learn how it all works. You know, they are very difficult cars to drive out there. They're very hard to drive, also physically, and he needs to re-adapt to that one."

He echoed those comments in the case of Colton Herta, who made the opposite move in switching IndyCar for Formula 2 this season.

The American is signed as F1 team Cadillac's reserve driver, though could not make his F1 debut this season if regular drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are unavailable because he doesn't yet possess an FIA Super Licence.

That is the main reason behind his decision to sign up for an F2 campaign, with Herta needing to finish in the top eight in the F2 standings - compared to the top six in IndyCar - to earn a Super Licence.

But it has not been a smooth ride for the 26-year-old, who currently sits 15th in the championship with a highest finish of fifth place.

Herta stated ahead of the British Grand Prix that he 'wouldn't grade my season so far very highly at all', and cited the behaviour of the Pirelli tyres - IndyCar uses Firestone rubber - as something he has needed time to adapt to.

"Colton Herta, I would say of the young American drivers, is the biggest talent," Steiner said. "And I think him coming to Formula 2, I mean, he's not doing what people expected him to do. But we need to be fair to him as well. It's like he needs the time to learn.

"But I think because it is not Formula 1, it's Formula 2, he needs to make progress in the second half of the season. I don't think a second year would help him in Formula 2. For sure, it helps, but would it be enough for him to make it to Formula 1? I think we need to see a trend to get better in the second half of the season.

"Let's see what Colton could do here, because it would be very nice if somebody who is a good American driver were present in Formula 1."