The Kannapolis-based Haas Formula 1 team driver was hit hard during a qualifying attempt

KANNAPOLIS, NC (WBTV) — Mick Schumacher, one of two drivers for the Kannapolis-based Haas Formula One racing team, was involved in an accident during a qualifying session on Saturday.

Schumacher hit the wall at Turn 12 at Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit as teams prepared for Sunday’s 50-lap Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Haas team posted on social media that “Mick is conscious, out of the car and currently on his way to the medical center”, later adding “He is physically well but will be airlifted to hospital for an additional precautionary check. -UPS.”

Team principal Guenther Steiner told Sky Sports Schumacher was taken to hospital as a precaution for a CT scan and did not appear to have any physical injuries. Steiner said Schumacher spoke with his mother to let her know he was fine.

Steiner said the team would likely only have Kevin Magnussen’s car racing on Sunday. Magnussen had his second consecutive top-10 race as he starts in 10th place on Sunday.

“I heard Mick wasn’t injured which is good and amazing when you see the accident he had, but the safety is so good with these cars with the fact that you can walk away from it. “An accident like that is impressive,” said Magnussen. noted. “I think he had a great qualifying session up to that point and was ready for a good result, so he’ll just have to come back and get on the horse and bounce back. We have to be happy with Q3 but the car was better than P10, I didn’t get the most out of it Honestly my neck broke completely in Q3 – suddenly it broke and I couldn’t hold it I wasn’t driving well I think there might have been a P5 in the car there was only half a second to P5 and my best lap in Q3 was on worn tires – and not a good lap as I said The team had a P5, but not me.

“A very eventful day for us,” Steiner said. “The best thing is that Mick apparently has no injuries, he is in hospital at the moment and being assessed by the doctors, so he is in good hands at the moment. It is possible that he will has to spend the night under observation in the hospital. Based on these facts and where we are, we have decided not to field his car tomorrow. Kevin, having not done much training yesterday , I think he did a fantastic job today going into Q3. His last run didn’t go to plan but I think that’s due to the lack of track time. We’re still happy with Q3 and P10 tomorrow.

Other competitors offered their best wishes to Schumacher. The Alfa Romeo F1 team tweeted “Session stopped under red flag after a big crash from Mick. More importantly we really hope he is well. “The whole team sending their best”, tweeted Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Schumacher, 23, is the son of former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher. Schumacher made his Formula 1 testing debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020riding for Haas in place of Kevin Magnussen.

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