Mick Schumacher says IndyCar is racing 'as it should be'

Whereas the slightest contact in F1 can often result in shards of carbon fibre raining down, IndyCar’s Dallara DW12’s have been known to be a bit sturdier, and Schumacher has said he’s up for getting his elbows out.

“It reminds me a little bit of like good old karting days,” he said. “I think it’s pretty similar to how WEC racing was, there’s quite a lot of side by side and maybe a little touch here and there.

“From what I understand, the cars are pretty robust as well. I’ve talked to a couple of other drivers, and they really enjoy the racing side of things.

“And I think for me, it was really just about getting back into my own car and being able to take the opportunities that are given to me.

“I’m just purely excited for the great racing that there will be and the fun that will bring up and create.”

The former F2 and F3 champion still has a steep learning curve to undergo if he wants to get up to speed on ovals though, a form of racing he has yet to try – and one which his own father Michael and uncle Ralf both said through the years that they thought was too dangerous.

The Rahal team has come up with an extensive testing programme to get Schumacher up to speed on circuits where the average lap can be well over 200mph.

“It’s probably going to be four oval tests, two road courses and then one street course, which would be Sebring [due to having a rough ‘street-like’ surface],” said Rahal president Jay Frye.

“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about,” Schumacher said himself of the oval racing dangers.

“But on the other hand, I think motor sport in a whole is dangerous, so I don’t really see why particularly that one thing should be more dangerous than anything else.

“We’ve had multiple conversations about that, and they’ve all been positive in my years. That’s why I ultimately took the decision.

“Of course, it’s not to be taken on the ‘easy shoulder’. I think that it is crazy speeds. It’s super quick. We’re obviously racing hard side-by-side. But I accept the risk for the enjoyment of the racing.”