The letters MSC on a Formula One timing screen once charted the dominance of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, but this season they denote the presence on track of his son, Mick Schumacher.
The Ferrari great first took the abbreviation to set himself apart from younger brother Ralf Schumacher on screens that display the first three letters of a surname, but Mick Schumacher has his own justification.
After winning the Formula Two title last year accompanied by the letters SCH, the third Schumacher to enter the sport asked F1 to make a change.
Photo: AFP
“I wanted that MSC,” the 21-year-old Haas driver told reporters during pre-season testing in Bahrain ahead of his F1 race debut there on Sunday next week.
“It’s an emotional bond I have to it,” he said. “I think it’s quite nice for everybody watching the timing screens and seeing MSC back on the screens as well. I think there’s a positive to it.”
There are likely to be those who expect the famous name to bring its own magic, but Mick Schumacher has shown through the junior series that he is well-grounded.
For him, taking the Schumacher name back to the starting grid is a source of pride more than pressure.
“I’m very happy to carry that surname, and I’m very happy to carry that name back into Formula One, and I’m very proud of it,” the Swiss-born German said at the launch of his team’s new Ferrari-powered car.
“It’s like a boost for me and it gives me motivation every single day,” he added.
Michael Schumacher, who has not been seen in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a 2013 skiing accident, made an instant impression when he qualified seventh on his F1 debut with Jordan in Belgium 30 years ago.
His son can expect a less dramatic debut with a US-owned team, who scored only three points last year and have already made clear that their main focus is on preparing for next year when new rules come into play.
The German’s enthusiasm, even when the prospect of a possible year without points is raised, is undimmed.
“I do feel ready, I would go racing tomorrow if it were up to me,” he said. “I cannot tell what is going to happen this season, but I know that I will do everything in my toolbox ... to hopefully get some points.”
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