Schumacher Q2 goal "totally realistic" after Williams fight

Mick Schumacher believes a Q2 outing for Haas remains a "totally realistic goal" after mixing it with Williams at the recent Iberian doubleheader.

The German rookie got the better of Nicholas Latifi at the Portuguese Grand Prix after applying late pressure on the Canadian before out-qualifying the Williams in Spain.

Despite Haas' own admission it would not develop the car through the season with an eye kept firmly on the new regulations for 2022, Schumacher claimed he would aim for a Q2 appearance this season.

Asked whether his performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya made his aims more attainable, Schumacher insisted: "It is totally a realistic goal. I would be unhappy if that wasn't the case this year.

"We are still pushing hard for it and there will be tracks that maybe come more our way.

"Considering Spain is maybe not one of our strongest I think we still managed to produce a very quick lap time. We were close to Kimi so we can be very happy and hopeful for a Q2 in the next whatever many races.

"Hopefully, we will manage."

Schumacher has vastly outperformed team-mate Nikita Mazepin in the opening four races of the season, with the gap in Spain almost 50 seconds between the pair.

Whilst Mazepin's struggles have been revealed to have come from a lack of confidence around the stability of the rear-end, Schumacher believes this characteristic helps him.

"Obviously, some drivers have a different driving style so for example, for me I like having a loose rear and a strong front and maybe Nikita doesn't," he added.

"Therefore, it is not like we are going in completely different directions but we have different preferences. I am quite happy where my car is at the moment."

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