Schumacher's F1 future grows darker after Sauber snub
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Mick Schumacher was a genuine contender for Sauber's remaining F1 seat according to team boss Mattia Binotto, but the Swiss outfit's decision to go in another direction suggests that the German's chances of returning to the grid are now all but over.
This week, Sauber confirmed that F2 charger Gabriel Bortoleto will partner Nico Hulkenberg for 2025, the final year of the Hinwil squad's transition towards becoming the Audi works team.
Schumacher's past relationship with Binotto at Ferrari had ignited speculation that the former Haas driver might secure a renewed opportunity in F1.
But that ship has now sailed for the 25-year-old Mercedes reserve driver.
Reflecting on Schumacher's candidacy, Binotto acknowledged that it was taken under serious consideration by Sauber.
"We had several talks, and he was certainly a strong candidate," Binotto told the media this week, quoted by RacingNews365.
"I know him very well from the past, and I know the strengths and maybe the weaknesses, but certainly I think he would have been a good choice.
"There were many candidates. Now, sometimes you need to come to a sort of decision and I don't think there is any reason why. We simply decided to go with Gabi."
Binotto also pointed the finger at Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff for promoting rookie Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton, suggesting that Wolff could have pushed for a seat for Schumacher elsewhere.
"You should ask the same to Toto [Wolff], about why he signed Kimi [Antonelli] and not Mick," Binotto added.
"Sometimes you need to come to a decision and then make the decision - and we made the decision to employ and hire Gabriel and we are happy."
©Mercedes
Sauber's decision highlights a shifting focus within Formula 1: teams are increasingly prioritizing younger drivers fresh out of F2 or F3 with immediate potential.
Binotto's comments underscore the ruthlessness of the decision-making process in F1, where even strong candidates can be overlooked due to timing and circumstance.
Speaking on Sky Germany in the wake of Sauber's decision to entrust its second seat to Bortoleto, Ralf Schumacher shared his view on his nephew's chances of reviving his F1 career in the future.
As a former Grand Prix with six wins to his name, Ralf understands the difficulties of navigating the sport's often cutthroat politics and saw little reason for optimism.
"Formula 1 is a crazy business," said the 49-year-old retired driver. The topic of Formula 1 is now rather unrealistic, unless – and of course, you wouldn't wish this on anyone – someone falls ill.
©Mercedes
"We've seen it with Colapinto, who is now on everyone's lips. If you get a chance, anything can happen. But I think after such a long time out, it will be rather difficult.
"Mick has been through a lot in the last year and a half, for example at Alpine, when he found out from a post that he wasn't in the car."
As things stand, remaining in his current role as a reserve driver for Mercedes might be Schumacher's most plausible path to securing a Formula 1 seat, however tenuous that hope may be.
But as Ralf noted, Schumacher's future in F1 is far from assured, and the young driver may need to look beyond Formula 1 if he hopes to build his motorsport career further.
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