Schumacher 'not even sore' after horror crash

Haas driver praises ‘security and safety’ of cars after escaping unhurt in qualifying for Saudi Arabian GP

JEDDAH:

Mick Schumacher paid tribute to the safety features built in to the current crop of Formula One cars after escaping uninjured from his horror crash in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old had to be lifted out of his wrecked Haas car after clipping a kerb at high speed on Saturday. He was airlifted to hospital for precautionary tests, and ruled out of Sunday's race.

"I'm feeling alright," said the son of German F1 legend Michael Schumacher on Sunday.

"I think to be able to stand here with nothing really, not even sore, just shows the security and safety of these cars," he added.

In his second season with Haas, and still to claim his first point, Schumacher says he is now focusing on completing the job he had started on Saturday, progressing for the first time to the final top 10 qualifying session.

"Q3 (the final qualifying session) was, I think, quite in reach and I was very close to it even," he said.

"I guess we'll have to delay that until Melbourne now, but I think Melbourne is also a nice place to score your first Q3 and maybe score your first points."

Haas will run just the one car, with Kevin Magnussen at the wheel, in Sunday's race which starts at 1700GMT on the Jeddah street circuit.

Schumacher insisted he felt "fit" to compete with his absence down to the need to preserve car parts for the Australian Grand Prix on April 10.

His accident raised questions over the ultra quick and narrow Jeddah circuit's safety.

"It's not for me but others to judge the safety but I think there are things to look at. Thankfully the cars of today are so safe."