Mick Schumacher’s F1 career is ‘over’ unless he lands shock 2025 switch
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Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko thinks that Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career might be finished unless he gets the open second seat at Sauber (Audi) for 2025.
Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, raced with the Haas team for two seasons from 2021 to 2022. However, he was let go after facing challenges during his second year.
Since then, the German driver has taken on the position of reserve driver for Mercedes, supporting George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. He is frequently seen in the paddock but has mostly participated in internal testing sessions. This year, however, Schumacher did compete for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
Despite this, he told The Independent earlier this year that he's still aiming for another opportunity in F1, although there is only one seat that hasn't been filled for the upcoming season.
Nico Hulkenberg has secured a position at Sauber, which is set to transition to Audi in 2026. Competing for the chance to join him are Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Franco Colapinto.
However, Marko, who thinks it would be completely unthinkable to have Bottas drive instead of Schumacher, firmly believes that the 25-year-old needs to secure the second Sauber seat in order to maintain his prospects in racing.
"I believe that the Audi [Sauber] won't be a competitive car next year," Marko shared with German media outlets RTL/ntv and sport.de. "This indicates that there won't be any pressure on either Audi or the driver [Schumacher]."
"It would be a valid comparison to Nico Hülkenberg, and if Schumacher's performance doesn't meet expectations, there's always the option to make a change for 2026."
If Valtteri Bottas really does get the opportunity, then it makes everything even harder for me to understand. In my opinion, if Schumacher isn't given this position, it could mark the end of his journey in Formula 1.
He should focus on long-distance races, where he has found a lot of success, and pursue that path. If he decides to continue in motorsport, he needs to seek out something he enjoys while also having a realistic opportunity to win.
Bottas is thought to be the frontrunner to keep his position at Sauber, while Bortoleto, a junior driver from McLaren and currently leading the F2 championship, is also a strong contender.
One advantage for Schumacher might be that the new chief technical officer at Sauber, Mattia Binotto, has previous experience with him from his days as a junior driver at Ferrari.
In June, Schumacher expressed that he is very eager to find a way back into Formula 1, prioritizing it over other racing series.
"There's still plenty that remains to be explored, particularly when it comes to driving," he noted.
"I’ve always been open about my desire to return to the grid. I've demonstrated time and again that I'm capable of clinching championships. Now, it's just about finding the right opportunity that aligns with someone else's plans."
"I can see ways I could have contributed more during my time at Haas, and I have more to offer. It really depends on what you're looking for in your team at this moment. Are you seeking someone to be the cornerstone of your team? Someone who excels in marketing? Or do you prefer a driver who simply focuses on performance? There are so many diverse types of drivers out there."
“I’m very eager for this opportunity. I just need to continue showcasing my skills in the WEC so everyone can see my potential. That way, they’ll understand what I bring to the table if they choose to work with me, and I hope to demonstrate to everyone that letting me go was a mistake.”
