Like others, Schumacher made a practice start from the grid after the checkered flag at the end of the first practice, but lost control of his Haas at Turn 7 as he returned to the pits.
Schumacher wiped both corners of the front of the car and had to sit out FP2 while his team carried out a precautionary chassis change for the rest of the weekend so they could properly investigate the damage from the engine. ‘accident.
The German – who has never raced at Suzuka before – complained on the radio after the accident that he had suffered ‘huge aquaplaning’, with Schumacher later explaining that he had been caught out by the sea spray. a car in front of him.
“Of course it wasn’t great that we lost a lot of temperature on the start side of practice,” he said when asked by Autosport if cooling his tires played a part.
“But I think it was more due to the fact that we had a car in front of us which was causing a lot of spray, so we couldn’t really see where to put the car.
“And on top of that, we were in a mode that we tried to learn as much as possible from so that we could have all the right settings for the race.
“You’re trying to figure out the track itself, obviously my first time here, trying to see where the puddles are, because it’s something very different every place you go.
“And unfortunately here the water seems to be pooling a bit in some places. It’s just a matter of understanding.
“I mean, if it had happened two meters later, I probably would have just turned 360 degrees and carried on. But things happen for a reason. And I don’t know what the reason is behind it now, but maybe in 10 years I will!”
Mechanics and marshals unload Mick Schumacher’s damaged car, Haas VF-22, from a flatbed truck after FP1
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Schumacher finished FP1 with an encouraging seventh place and was adamant that had it not been for the traffic in the final sector, he would have set the fourth fastest time of the morning.
He also dismissed suggestions that missing out on FP2 would now add pressure on him as his place at Haas for 2023 remains uncertain.
“The pressure is something I’ve been dealing with for quite some time. And I would say all my life. So it doesn’t bother me,” he added.
“On the other hand, I always want to do my best. And it doesn’t matter what happened before. We’re taking one thing at a time, and now it’s FP3 tomorrow and qualifying.
“We would have been P4 if not for the traffic we had on the last sector. It looked very promising. And I think the rain really suits our car at the moment. I’m so looking forward to it.”
While Saturday’s race in Japan will be held in dry conditions, Schumacher admits he doesn’t know if Haas’ wet pace will translate when the water calms down.
“Potentially a bit more difficult,” Schumacher said of Haas’ dry form. “I would say maybe the other teams have a little dry advantage over us right now.
“But nevertheless, we will do our best to see what the set-up looks like and what we need to do to do good qualifying.
“I can’t wait to be on the track tomorrow. It’s an amazing place to be. And yes, I hope with the car we have we can get into Q3. I think that will be the goal, and then for the race itself, I hope for some points.”
