Schumacher calls on Mazepin to "pull the same string" after fractious rookie season

Mick Schumacher has called on Haas team-mate Nikita Mazepin to "pull at the same string" in order to rejoin F1's midfield in 2022 after a tumultuous rookie season together.

Both drivers made the step up to F1 from F2 for the 2021 season and whilst Schumacher impressed despite Haas' struggles, Mazepin initially found difficulties in adapting to the VF-21.

When the two did eventually converge on track, tempers frayed with near-misses in Azerbaijan and Zandvoort in addition to qualifying squabbles in the Netherlands and Austria creating a sour tension between the two sides of the garage.

Addressing the working relationship between himself and his Russian team-mate in an interview including GPFans, Schumacher said: "I think next year, again, if we all pull at the same string, that's all we can do to really bring the car forward, so, I expect everybody to do that."

Pressed on whether the pair would be able to repair the fractured relationship going forward, Schumacher added: "I think there's not much to really much to go into depth with that because obviously we're required to work together in the team and we try to bring the team forwards.

"Does that mean we'll go on holiday together? Maybe not.

"But the fact is, again, as I said earlier, the most important part for me is that we pull at the same string, that we pull the same rope in the fight, which obviously is going to be with Williams and with Alfa most likely or maybe potentially even higher.

"That's what we want to achieve."

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