Mick Schumacher ‘going through hell’ over Michael’s ‘very sad’ health battle, Johnny Herbert

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The three-time F1 race winner described the struggle that Michael’s racer son Mick has faced not having his dad alongside him in the paddock.

But he hailed the young driver for handling the terrible situation “brilliantly”.

He questioned whether the 24-year-old may have suffered under the pressure of his dad’s legacy.

Michael has not been seen or heard from in nearly 10 years as he continues to recover from a horrific ski crash.

His family have worked hard to ensure privacy – even as Mick embarked on his own F1 career and rose through the ranks.

Herbert told betting firm Ice 36 that it “must be hell” for Mick.

“Michael Schumacher’s health is also very sad for Mick. It can’t be easy for Mick, because of what his dad achieved,” Herbert said.

“Being around your dad when you’re younger. Then of course his dad is not there to enjoy it and guide him.

“There have been a lot of people who have helped Mick over the years, but I think it is a situation that he would have loved his dad to be there for him.”

Mick followed in his dad’s footsteps into F1 — but the young driver struggled and lost his race seat at the end of 2022 after a series of crashes for the Haas team.

He was dropped in favour of veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg for 2023 — and is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.

The German is backing up Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, potentially stepping in for them if they have to miss a race.

“He has dealt with the situation brilliantly. There was so much media attention just because of who he was and is,” Herbert said.

“Then the expectations of what his dad did and trying to live up to them. He was under a hell of a lot of pressure and did it get the better of him?

“Maybe. Did he do enough when he was up against Kevin Magnussen (at Haas)? Probably not. That’s why it didn’t work out.

“He never created that opportunity for himself to continue as a racer.”

Herbert, now a respected pundit, was confident that Mick can find his way back to the grid — especially if he gets a chance to shine at a Grand Prix.

“But there is still a chance an opportunity will open up and he will get that one-off race, like it did for Nyck de Vries, that might lead people to think, ‘Wow’.”

The Brit raced in F1 from 1989 to 2000 — racing for teams including Lotus, Sauber, Stewart and Jaguar.

He won three races — including at the British Grand Prix in 1995.

And he partner Schumacher as the German went on to win his first two world titles in 1994 and 1995.

Herbert last week also slammed German magazine Die Aktuelle which ran a disturbing AI-generated fake interview with his old pal Schumacher.

Michael was left in a medically induced coma after his accident while skiing off piste on December 29, 2013 — spending three months in hospital before being released home.

He is reported to have suffered a traumatic injury to his brain — but little other info has been released on his health.

The lack of official updates has left room for speculation and conflicting reports from “insiders” about his slow progress.

Reports have claimed he was in a vegetative state while others claimed he was awake and able to talk.

Some pals have criticised the family for not being more open — including Schumacher’s manager of 20 years, Willi Weber, and Schumacher’s boss at Mercedes, Nick Fry.

The F1 legend was a seven-time-world champion — winning five times for Ferrari and twice for Benetton — and is regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time.

He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012, winning 91 races.

His “second career” saw him race with the returning Mercedes team when they bought out Brawn GP at the end of 2009.