Haas F1 driver Mick Schumacher was taken to a local hospital Saturday evening after he suffered a vicious crash during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
With less than five minutes to go in Q2, Schumacher’s car shot nose first into the wall at high speed near the end of the first sector in Turn 12 of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The session was immediately red-flagged, and the FIA medical crew was quickly on the scene. After a few tense moments, Schumacher, who was conscious and talking, was extricated from the remains of the car, and taken to the track medical center.
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner later said Schumacher seemed to be fine physically, and that Mick had talked to his mom. Steiner added that he had also talked to Corinna Schumacher, Mick’s mom, and that Mick seemed fine but was being airlifted to a local hospital for further medical scans and is expected to remain there for observation overnight.
The team later said that Schumacher will not be in Sunday’s race and “For the avoidance of doubt, we will only be running one car in the race.”
The medical helicopter could be seen departing the track shortly before the session resumed shortly after 11:30 p.m. local time.
The red flag was the second of qualifying, the first coming for a crash for Williams’ Nicholas Latifi in Q1. The drama of the session began when Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 for the first time since the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix.
UPDATE: Mick is physically in a good condition but will be flown by helicopter to hospital for further precautionary check-ups. #HaasF1 #SaudiArabianGP
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 26, 2022
For the avoidance of doubt, we will only be running one car in the race.
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 26, 2022
Hi everyone, I just wanted to say that I’m ok🙏
Thank you for the kind messages.
The car felt great @haasf1team, we’ll come back stronger❤️ pic.twitter.com/Mwpy0767kN— Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) March 26, 2022
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.