• 0

    Your cart is currently empty.

Home / Blog
War Of The Worlds Is The Best Post-Apocalyptic Show Since The Walking Dead
War Of The Worlds Is The Best Post-Apocalyptic Show Since The Walking Dead

The following article was produced in partnership with SBS On Demand.

It’s been eons since we slathered over a post-apocalyptic show. But War of the Worlds season 3, which is currently on SBS On Demand, has us pummelling our remotes for more.

Not only that, we’d argue it’s the best post-apocalyptic show since The Walking Dead. Big call? Don’t throw your Carl Grimes eye patch at our heads just yet: hear us out.

One of the biggest drawcards to The Walking Dead was the post-apocalyptic world it portrayed. The Walking Dead first aired in 2010. This was a time when the idea the world would end in 2012 (thanks to the end of the Mayan calendar) was still rattling around our collective psyche.

Image Credit: IMDb

AMC took advantage of our doomsday perversion to create a show set in a post-apocalyptic world that had us hooked from the get-go. Throughout the series, the survivors faced countless zombies, human enemies, and even nuclear explosions. Themes included survivorship, leadership, corruption and togetherness. Incredible tension was also built by making the villains human-adjacent (and sometimes fully human). In other words: the show was scarily relatable.

By the same token, War of the Worlds makes its villains uncannily like humans (but not quite). These spider-like robots are truly terrifying, thanks to the alien flesh embedded in them, and the creepy way they communicate with each other (and some humans). 

Without giving too much away, they aren’t as different to humans as we might think (with one character in season one even going as far as to justify their behaviour by saying it’s no different to what people have done in going to war).

The other reason The Walking Dead is so compelling is that it creates a Lord of the Flies kind of feeling that makes you wonder how you (and your family, neighbours and friends) would react if disaster stuck. Who would be the heroes? Who would be the villains? Who would thrive in a way they don’t in real life? Who would fall to pieces? The questions, for anyone super into the show, could keep you up all night. 

War of the Worlds has this too, as the story follows various groups of survivors who team up after an extra-terrestrial strike births murderous, baby-stealing aliens on the planet. In season 3, a heart-racing new chapter of War of the Worlds, the battle between survivors and aliens hits a new stage, as yet another hair-raising phenomenon starts affecting people all over the world. 

In much the same way The Walking Dead had us glued to our screens back in the 2010s, War of the Worlds is perfectly poised to make an impression on us in 2022. Not only have we been through a pandemic, which has taught us what it’s like for the world to radically change in our own lifetimes, but we’ve also seen a real roaring 20s, live for the moment, grasp-life-by-the-neck attitude to life engendered in many of us in the wake of COVID-restrictions loosening. 

We’ve seen phenomena like revenge travelling, entrepreneurship and The Great Resignation boom, as both individuals and companies re-assess how they want to live their lives, what they want to reach for and where their priorities lie. In that respect, War of the Worlds season 3 is the ultimate ode to The Now – it perfectly captures and feeds into public sentiment in 2022.

War of the Worlds season 3 is the perfect combination of a series that plays on your fears, sparks your imagination and makes you interrogate what it means to be human when everything (whether in the real world or a fantasy one) feels like it’s falling apart. The writing and cinematography are both excellent too (it really knows how to build the tension). 

Speaking of which, just as The Walking Dead writers occasionally went off script (resulting in some of the best moments of the show), War of the Worlds has struck an excellent balance between remaining true to H.G Wells’ classic science fiction novel (whose themes included family and loss, how people react to calamity, what it means to be human and how power can corrupt) and modernising the story for binge-hungry television audiences.

In War of the Worlds season 3, survivors must pull up their bootstraps, put their differences aside and focus on defeating a brand new enemy (thus ensuring the survival of humanity yet again). In this latest season, Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary, The Usual Suspects, Zero Zero Zero) and Léa Drucker (The Bureau) will be joined by new actors: Molly Windsor (Three Girls), Ernest Kingsley Junior (The Sandman) and Oliver Hembrough (The White Princess) making the show even more enjoyable to watch. 

Is it really as good as The Walking Dead though? Check it out on SBS On Demand, and decide for yourself. 

Check out SBS On Demand and the latest season of War of the Worlds here.

 

The post War Of The Worlds Is The Best Post-Apocalyptic Show Since The Walking Dead appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
Argentina Goalkeeper’s ‘Rude’ Gesture Angers Qatar Royalty During Celebrations
Argentina Goalkeeper’s ‘Rude’ Gesture Angers Qatar Royalty During Celebrations

Emiliano Martínez, Argentina’s goalkeeper at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has raised eyebrows across the world for his… Exuberant behaviour after picking up a prestigious football award.

Martínez was a crucial part of Argentina’s World Cup campaign, with the South American side winning the tournament in Qatar in a nail-biting penalty shootout against France earlier this morning.

For Martínez’s efforts, the 30-year-old – who also plays for English Premier League side Aston Villa – netted himself the Golden Glove: the award for the best goalkeeper at a World Cup. But it’s what he did immediately after receiving it that’s caused a bit of controversy.

After receiving the golden hand-shaped trophy, with all the world’s eyeballs on him, Martínez didn’t hesitate to put the trophy in front of his crotch and thrust. Incredibly haram stuff.

According to some reports, FIFA slapped Martínez with a fine for the disrespectful act – but it’s not clear how much that fine was. Considering he did this in notoriously conservative Qatar, he’s lucky he didn’t lose an appendage, we reckon…

RELATED: Swapping Shirts: A Tradition Of Respect, Sweat & Unsanitary Unity

Argentina’s victory over France marks Argentina’s first World Cup win in 36 years, as well as star player Lionel Messi’s first World Cup win.

In terms of other awards given after the game, Messi won the Golden Ball (best overall player) and France’s star Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot (top scorer).

Read Next

The post Argentina Goalkeeper’s ‘Rude’ Gesture Angers Qatar Royalty During Celebrations appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
It’s Official: Messi Is The True GOAT
It’s Official: Messi Is The True GOAT

Argentina have won the 2022 World Cup, led by Lionel Messi, who kicked off Los Albicelestes’ first half with a penalty, and then followed it up with a delectable pass that began one of the best counter-attacking goals seen at a World Cup final. And then of course Argentina’s final goal in extra time, and their first goal in the penalty shootout.

As pundit Mark Bosnich said at halftime of the 2022 World Cup final: “who dares wins.” Argentina dared all right. Manager Scaloni’s brave move to start Di Maria (and put him on the left wing) paid dividends after he turned around Dembele, who had been pinned back all game, at the corner flag and then raced into the box to draw a penalty.

Image Credit: Getty

Lionel Messi then stepped up, the weight of 45.81 million people on his shoulders, and slotted home the penalty (after looking very nervous), as casually as you might shut your underwear drawer. This put him above Mbappe in this year’s race for the Golden Boot at the World Cup (momentarily, before Mbappe got his hatrick).

This wasn’t even the best thing Messi did. He also shook himself better after getting in a nasty collision while doing defensive work and provided the key pass in one of the better counter-attacking goals we’ve seen all World Cup.

Mbappe then got France back in it with two goals in two minutes late in the second half, taking the game to extra time (with Messi actually losing the ball for France’s second goal). Then, in the second half of extra time, Messi scored. It wasn’t his best goal, but it was a historic moment, and he showed the killer instinct of a striker.

Comments from the commentary team included: “It had to be him” and “With the greatest respect to Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest player of his generation.”

It wasn’t over there though with Mbappe completing an unbelievable hatrick (for a time he really stole the show) to send the game to penalties at 3-3. In penalties, Mbappe and Messi both scored their teams’ respective first spot kicks, but then France fell apart.

Lionel Messi has now scored 13 goals in 26 matches at the World Cup throughout his career. He has scored seven of those goals at Qatar 2022, two of which came today. Just another day in the life of a GOAT.

Messi scored his first World Cup goal at the 2006 World Cup in Germany against Serbia and Montenegro in Argentina’s second Group C match, at 18 years and 357 days old. He’s now 35 and a World Cup winner. How time flies.

Read Next

The post It’s Official: Messi Is The True GOAT appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
Buenos Aires Is Absolutely Thumping, & The Game Hasn’t Even Started
Buenos Aires Is Absolutely Thumping, & The Game Hasn’t Even Started

With one hour to go until kick-off, Buenos Aires is already moving and shaking, as fans prepare to watch Lionel Messi’s last dance.

What a swan song. This is Lionel Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup, and doesn’t Argentina know it. The street of Buenos Aires are a dizzying headspin of blue and white shirts, Adidas says it has sold out of strips with Messi’s name on them and even in places as far-reaching as Brazil, Bangladesh and Naples, Argentina super fans are coming out of the woodwork and hoping for a spectacle.

In Argentina’s way is Messi’s PSG teammate (and lets be honest, superstar) Mbappe, and a France team that has looked imperious all World Cup (they have that scary, true champions thing of winning even when they play badly).

That hasn’t deterred Argentina fans from shaking subways and streets the world over, with the World Cup final still yet to kick off (at the time of writing). Particularly impressive is the Argentina street artwork in rival nation Brazil, a video of which was posted to Twitter by journalist Pablo Giralt.

Footage from Twitter user @Copa90 shows Argentina fans going mad in Naples, too…

… and of course in Buenos Aires, well, we don’t need to tell you…

Read Next

The post Buenos Aires Is Absolutely Thumping, & The Game Hasn’t Even Started appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
Swapping Shirts: A Tradition Of Respect, Sweat & Unsanitary Unity
Swapping Shirts: A Tradition Of Respect, Sweat & Unsanitary Unity

Swapping your shirt at the end of a match is the ultimate exchange of respect (and sweat). With the World Cup final 2022 coming up, we thought we’d explore the most iconic shirt swaps that have taken place in history.

Swapping shirts is a sweaty tradition embraced throughout the ages. But also one that has had quite a few managers get shirty (especially when the exchange has happened at half time, or during a tense moment of a local derby).

Without further ado, and in honour of the upcoming World Cup final 2022 getting closer and closer to gracing our screens, here are the most iconic shirt swaps of all time.

Pele and Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup

Image Credit: Rare Historical Photos

At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, all time great Pele swapped shirts with West Ham and England legend Bobby Moore – the captain of the England national team that won the World Cup in 1966. Brazil had beaten England 1-0 in the game in question thanks to a goal from Jairzinho.

“He was my friend as well as the greatest defender I ever played against,” Pele later said of “honourable gentleman” Moore. “The shirt he wore against me in that 1970 match is my prize possession.”

Balotelli and Pepe

Image Credit: Carl Recine/Action Images

Though it didn’t appear to phase him too much (he turned up to training the following Thursday in a $455,246 Ferrarri) Mario Balotelli sparked outroar when he swapped shirts with the Real Madrid defensive unit Pepe in 2014. The reason it was controversial is because Liverpool were losing 3-0 in a crucial Champions League game, and because Balotelli swapped shirts with Pepe at half time (at Anfield, no less).

Though Ballotelli was replaced by Adam Lallana for the second half, Liverpool manager at the time Brendan Rodgers claimed it was a purely tactical move, telling Sky Sports: “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“But if that’s the case then I wouldn’t like it. It’s something that I don’t like to see, I’ve seen it happen in other leagues and other countries but it’s certainly something that doesn’t happen here and shouldn’t happen. We had an incident last year here with a player, which I dealt with, and if that’s the case then I’ll deal with this as well.”

Balotelli, who has become a legendary name for lighting fireworks in his own bathroom (and accidentally setting his house on fire, the night before City’s biggest win against Manchester United for 56 years) as well as going to watch the Formula 1 qualifiers rather than go to a scheduled meeting with Jose Mourinho (and telling him “I can come to your office everyday but the Formula 1 is in Italy only once a year, so…”) is unlikely to have been too perturbed by the relatively mild controversy this story caused. And good on him. Just Balotelli doing Balotelli things…

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Neymar

While playing for England in Rio’s Maracana stadium in the summer of 2013, Oxlade-Chamberlain swapped shirts with Neymar. He might have got away with it had it all taken place after the game, but the cameras picked up some on-field negotiation while the match was still going. Roy Keane hammered him for it and Oxlade-Chamberlain says he regretted it.

Zanetti and Materazzi fighting over Henry’s jersey

Image via Reddit

After Arsenal’s 3-0 loss at Highbury to Inter Milan, in 2003, in the Champions League, Zanetti and Materazzi briefly argued over who should get Henry’s shirt. Ultimately it went to Zanetti, Inter club captain and all around legend. Arsenal ended up getting revenge in the return leg at San Siro.

Scholes swapping shirts with Iniesta

More greatness than one shirt can handle…

In the 2011 Champions League final, Manchester Utd lost 3-1 to Barcelona at Wembley. After the match, Manchester United’s legendary midfielder Paul Scholes swapped shirts with Barcelona’s legendary midfielder Iniesta.

Before the game, it is rumoured that Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Pedro Rodriguez, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta (no shortage of talent there) all wanted to swap shirts with The Ginger One after the game. They apparently drew straws and Iniesta won.

Paulo Ferreira and Ronaldinho

Image Credit: Andy Hooper

In 2005, when Chelsea beat Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League match up at Stamford Bridge, Paulo Ferreira and Ronaldinho swapped shirts at half-time.

This came after Chelsea went 3-0 up before Barcelona got two goals back. One of those goals was that cheeky, just outside-the-box goal from Ronaldinho (if you know, you know). John Terry made sealed the deal for Chelsea, however, with 15 minutes left on the clock, with a header.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and… a City player

Ruud and Gary Neville walking side by side. Image Credit: Getty

As reported by The Guardian, Phil Neville, commentating for BBC 5 live, inspired by the aforementioned Balotelli incident, revealed that Ruud van Nistelrooy “once received a double dose of hairdryer treatment when he thought it would be a good idea to swap shirts during a Manchester derby” (The Guardian).

Ferguson’s response, apparently, was: “do that again and you’ll be out of the club.”

Read Next

The post Swapping Shirts: A Tradition Of Respect, Sweat & Unsanitary Unity appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
World Cup Final Proof Australia Is Actually A Great Footballing Nation
World Cup Final Proof Australia Is Actually A Great Footballing Nation

The two teams in the World Cup final (France and Argentina) are the only two teams who have beaten Australia at this World Cup. That can’t just be a coincidence, right?

World Cups are funny. They’re about moments not millions. Bandwagons not logic. Fan conspiracies not pundit platitudes. Unlikely heroes and all the rest. In among all this madness, as proved by Morocco, some truly crazy things can happen.

Morocco wasn’t the only minnow to punch above its weight at this World Cup either. Australia made history by beating Denmark’s $545 million squad (after having already beaten Tunisia in the game prior) to make it to the round of 16.

RELATED: German Players’ Wives Blamed For Nation’s Shock World Cup Exit

For a country with a squad worth just $58 million dollars, this was a stunning feat. In the tailwind of this optimism, and as the grand finale now rapidly approaches, the Socceroos have now taken to Twitter with a classic grand final message: “Wishing the only two teams to beat us at the #FIFAWorldCup all the best in the Final,” the Socceroos’ official Twitter account wrote.

Some took this even further, with Optus Sport taking the chance to quip: “Soooo Australia are technically the third best nation in the world… that’s how it works right?”

Comments on the post included: “a strange flex” and “there are levels to the game.”

Another social media user said: “reasoning endorsed.”

Given France and Argentina, the two teams in the final, are the only teams to have beaten Australia at the Qatar World Cup 2022, by some twisted logic it is tempting to take that on face value. Of course, Australia didn’t play every other team, and that’s not how it works (the playoff will be between Croatia and Morocco on Saturday night). But hey: a nation can dream.

Speaking of dreams, there is a controversial plan in the works to improve the Socceroos. Let’s just hope it starts to have an impact in time for the next World Cup, which will be in Mexico, Canada and the USA.

Read Next

The post World Cup Final Proof Australia Is Actually A Great Footballing Nation appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
In Giant F*ck You To Competitors, Emirates Buys Exclusive Rights To Serve ‘High Class’ Champagne
In Giant F*ck You To Competitors, Emirates Buys Exclusive Rights To Serve ‘High Class’ Champagne

If you like your champers with a slice of controversy, you’re in luck: Emirates has bought the exclusive rights to serve Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon onboard until 2024.

Business and first class stalwarts from all stripes except Emirates’ will be crying into their cravats this weekend, as the news has broken that Emirates has bought the exclusive rights to serve onboard Champagne from Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon.

Though there are other champagne houses in the world (there are about 260 champagne houses all up), these are the big boys. And Emirates has worked hard for this deal: the Dubai-based carrier buys more bubbly than any airline in the world, and is the number 1 global partner of Dom Pérignon (with a 30-year history of serving it to customers).

From the champagne-sipping mouth of the airline itself: “Emirates is currently the only commercial airline in the world officially serving Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon onboard.”

Image Credit: Food & Wine

Emirates adds; “Global airline exclusive agreements are in place until 2024, meaning that Emirates is the only international airline offering a ‘taste of the stars’ to passengers, inviting them to experience the sparkling sensations of the world’s most outstanding champagnes – at 40,000 feet.”

Despite the terrifying world shortage of champagne in 2021 (see: weird weather patterns and pandemic supply chain issues), which came alongside an explosion in demand for champagne globally, Emirates passengers, Emirates says, “remain well-served onboard with the finest selection of bubbles available, ready to toast the festive season, special occasions, and the hope and promise of a new year.”

In case you’ve been living under a gold-plated rock, on Emirates, Dom Pérignon is served in First Class across all global routes, Veuve Clicquot is served in Business Class on routes to the Americas, UK, and Europe, and Moët & Chandon is served in Business Class on routes to Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific including Australasia. Economy Class passengers can also buy Moët & Chandon onboard.

A truly evil genius move. We’ll drink to that.

Read Next

The post In Giant F*ck You To Competitors, Emirates Buys Exclusive Rights To Serve ‘High Class’ Champagne appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
MG Is Helping Australian Families Become ‘All-Electric’ With A Unique Offer
MG Is Helping Australian Families Become ‘All-Electric’ With A Unique Offer

The following article was produced in partnership with MG Motors.

Australians are finally embracing electric motoring. More and more electric cars can be seen on our streets and highways – and it’s largely because Aussies have become more mature in their approach to electric vehicle ownership.

While many Aussies are confident enough to have an EV as their one and only vehicle, many Australian families have found that the solution that works for them is to split the difference: have one internal combustion engined (ICE) car, and one EV in the garage.

Perhaps that’s why the number of Aussie households with two cars has accelerated over the past year. According to idcommunity, two-car homes are up by 53% – which has been fuelled (or perhaps not fuelled, as the case may be) by the increasing popularity of EVs.

It makes sense, too. Range anxiety might be a malaise that’s on the way out, but having one electric and one conventional car in the garage makes it easy for modern, active families to get out and about no matter the conditions – and it’s also a way to ease into becoming an all-electric family.

Enter: MG Motors. MG has been leading the way when it comes to encouraging families to begin their transformation from ICEs to EVs by enabling people to become an all-electric family with the MG ZS EV and a transitional solution, the MG HS Plus EV plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The MG HS Plus EV plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the MG ZS EV.

MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao explains that second cars are much more likely to get used for short journeys – a role EVs are perfect for.

“The ZS EV is capable of getting the kids to out-of-school sports practice, through to the daily grind… The second vehicle has become a vital part of everyday life for many working families in Australia and deserves just as much appreciation as a family’s main car, which the HS Plus EV is perfectly suited to.”

“Electric vehicles (EVs) often get compared to smartphones. Society changed when smartphones took over from landlines, and now, something similar is happening with EVs.”

Peter Ciao

The other important part of the electrification equation is charging points. In that area, MG has been ahead of the pack, too: the company has revealed a range of EV chargers that are available to purchase now at more than 85 of its dealerships around Australia.

Called the MG ChargeHub, the EV charger is available in two different capacities – a 7kW single-phase version and an 11kW three-phase version. The 7kW ChargeHub is capable of recharging an EV with a 44.5kWh battery in a quarter of the time it takes with the emergency cable supplied with the car (which is usually about 19 hours).

“At MG, we’re committed to supporting our customers in any way we can, so we felt it made complete sense to add infrastructure to the products we provide for our electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid customers,” Peter says.

“It can deliver significant savings and offers the ease of motoring, giving reassurance and confidence to households facing the pressures of modern life including but not limited to range anxiety.”

Peter Ciao
The MG ChargeHub is sleek, unobtrusive and practical.

To celebrate and highlight the sometimes-overlooked role that second cars play in our lives, MG is offering families the chance to get a rebate on an MG ChargeHub on the purchase of their second car.

“We have achieved our ambition of delivering value and driving discussion. Now, we take the next step by supplying charging hardware that can be used by many electric vehicle owners in Australia,” Peter says.

These days, living with an EV means unplugging in the morning, driving all day without worrying about how many kilometres are left in the battery, and returning home to plug in again. As charging gets quicker and electric cars are becoming more efficient with bigger batteries, it’s never been easier to own an EV.

“There is one difference between owning a ZS EV and an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle that is easy to understand: with our ZS EV, you never need to visit a petrol station again unless you need to use the bathroom,” Peter touts.

“If you have a ChargeHub, starting each day with a full battery pack and zero range anxiety is easy. Comparatively, most ICE drivers must visit a petrol station when their tank is nearly empty.”

Peter Ciao

If you don’t have a home charging station, you can power up your ZS EV at a public or workplace charging station – which isn’t normally a hassle, but relying on public charging makes the EV ownership experience similar to the ICE ownership experience. By installing a home charger like MG’s ChargeHub, you can save time, money and really reap the rewards of switching to an EV.

Charging at home is a cinch with MG’s ChargeHub.

“Recharging every day with the ZS EV and your HS Plus EV is especially simple if you have a ChargeHub. When you arrive home, you plug your vehicle in, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to think about the charging process until the next time you want to drive. At that time, you simply unplug, hang up the charging cable, and drive off,” Peter says.

Maintenance on an EV is also much cheaper than on a petrol or diesel car. For example, the ZS EV comes with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty paired with fixed-price servicing for peace of mind through the MG Precise Price Servicing plan. This covers all items requiring maintenance as indicated in the service schedule – meaning the price listed is the price you will pay. That’s refreshing.

That’s before we start talking about the emissions, performance and comfort benefits that EVs inherently have over ICE cars…

Of course, PHEVs like the MG HS Plus EV also offer their advantages and are a great compromise if you can’t commit to fully-electric motoring just yet. The primary benefit is range: while an electric vehicle can only travel as far as its batteries allow, PHEVs also have a petrol engine to support their electric powertrain. The result is that PHEV drivers get the best of both worlds. They get electric-vehicle efficiency around town and traditional car range for longer trips.

Having taken a road trip in an MG HS Plus EV ourselves, we can attest to the convenience and value of a PHEV for long road trips.

Of course, having a home charger like MG’s ChargeHub is invaluable if you’ve got a PHEV, as it allows you to fully reap the benefits and convenience of PHEV ownership.

Sporty yet practical, MG’s clever range of cars are perfect for families of all shapes and sizes.

Regardless of whether your family has an EV or PHEV (or both) in the garage, MG’s ChargeHub is a must-have. Electric motoring is the future – and MG’s helping us get there.

Find out more about the MG ChargeHub, the rebate on offer as well as MG’s exciting electrified vehicle range at MG’s online showroom here.

The post MG Is Helping Australian Families Become ‘All-Electric’ With A Unique Offer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more
Mick Schumacher Joins Mercedes As Reserve Driver
Mick Schumacher Joins Mercedes As Reserve Driver

The son of the GOAT’s dreams in Formula 1 might not be dead after all, with the young driver receiving a lifeline from one of his dad’s old teams.

Mick Schumacher’s had a bit of a rough run in F1. After only two years in the sport with American team Haas, the young German and son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher found himself without a seat for 2023 after one of the most chaotic F1 silly seasons in recent memory.

The 23-year-old, who won the Formula 2 World Championship in 2020, struggled at backmarker team Haas. While he scored his first F1 points this year with an 8th-place finish at the British Grand Prix, his propensity for expensive crashes and otherwise mediocre performances saw Haas ultimately make the call to sign journeyman driver Nico Hülkenberg in his place for 2023.

To make matters worse, Ferrari announced that they would be ending their contract with Mick, with Schumacher having joined their driver academy back in 2019. It seemed all that hope; all that momentum Schumacher had built up over a lifetime of driving was about to evaporate.

Thankfully, another of his dad’s former teams has stepped in and signed the young German, with Mercedes announcing Schumacher will become their reserve driver for 2023.

Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff had previously been open about wanting to “look after” Mick, expressing sympathy for his difficult predicament and his failure to launch.

“I think he deserves a chance,” Wolff said on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast. “He won [the F2 title] and that is not easy. Things can go against you in your first years in Formula 1. He was under pressure to deliver and that doesn’t help, and F1 is brutal.”

“Maybe, in a way, having a year off as a third driver – similar to what Daniel [Ricciardo is doing with Red Bull] – can be good to reassess yourself and bring yourself in a better place and hopefully find a seat again.”

Toto Wolff

RELATED: Daniel Ricciardo Signs ‘Head-Scratching’ Red Bull Reserve Driver Deal

It’s very fitting that Mick’s joining Mercedes. His famous dad competed for Mercedes in sportscars and DTM prior to becoming an F1 driver, before finishing his career at the Silver Arrows in a three-year spell from 2010-12, while Mick’s uncle Ralf and cousin David have also raced for Mercedes in various categories, the F1 blog relates.

Of course, this isn’t just an act of charity from Wolff and Mercedes. After the 2022 driver market silly season, the top team found itself without a reserve driver, with its two former reserves having found seats elsewhere: Nyck de Vries netting himself a full-time drive at AlphaTauri, and Stoffel Vandoorne becoming an Aston Martin reserve driver.

Mick Schumacher racing for Haas during the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix. Image: Getty

In Schumacher, they get a young, diligent driver with a methodical work ethic similar to his father’s – as well as a fire in his belly, as he’ll want to do everything he can to impress and work his way back to a full-time race seat. There’s also the obvious attraction of having a German driver (especially one with a famous German name) at a German team.

RELATED: Rookie Driver Shows How Physically Hard It Is To Drive In Formula 1

What Mick needs to do is pull a George Russell. The then-Williams driver impressed Wolff with his performance after he stood in for a sick Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix – which was no doubt a crucial factor in Mercedes signing the young Brit for 2022 and beyond.

If Schumacher can put in a similarly impressive performance if or when either Hamilton or Russell needs a fill-in, he could inspire another team to give him a second chance. Here’s hoping…

Read Next

The post Mick Schumacher Joins Mercedes As Reserve Driver appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Read more