Formula 1 has been evolving since its inception in the 20th century. Several eras and drivers have come and gone, each impacting the sport, making F1 what we see today. And one phenomenon that the 2023 rookie Nyck de Vries introduced us to in 2022 is signing as a backup driver for multiple teams on the grid. And the latest driver to join the Nyck de Vries academy of backup drivers is former Haas driver Mick Schumacher, who has now joined McLaren as a backup driver.

The fans went crazy as the announcement was made. The signing means McLaren will be the second team on the grid other than Mercedes, which has the option to call up Mick for racing on weekends. The addition of Mick as a backup shows how the teams are stacking up their reserves as well, with experienced drivers staying on standby.

Bringing in Mick also means more pressure and a check on the main drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who were not spared by social media users. Now Mick in orange, after Mick in red and white, is something that the fans are dying to see.

Fans react to Mick Schumacher joining McLaren

After just driving for two seasons with Haas, Mick was ousted from the paddock with no seat offered to him. Following that termination, the driver left Ferrari after four years as a member of their drivers’ academy. But as the sign-ups for several teams come up, it means he’ll stay on the simulators to sharpen himself and wait for an opening.

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While there was a plethora of shots taken at Lando Norris, there were also many wholesome welcome posts for Mick.

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Finally, as a result, Schumacher joins IndyCar champion Alex Palou on McLaren’s list of backup drivers for the 2023 season. The German will be able to drive in if either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, the papaya team’s new addition, cannot participate in a race weekend.