Since being replaced at Haas eighteen months ago, Mick Schumacher has worked towards returning to F1. He spent last season as a reserve driver for Mercedes before forming part of Alpine’s 2024 WEC team. However, Schumacher’s most likely path to F1 is not with either of these teams. Instead, a change of leadership at Audi could provide the 25-year-old with an F1 lifeline.
Mick Schumacher is under consideration at Audi
For the majority of the season, Schumacher’s options in F1 have appeared relatively slim.
With all indications pointing towards Jack Doohan as Ocon’s replacement at Alpine, a path that was previously seen as plausible for the German driver appears to have escaped him.
Mercedes is not a realistic option for Schumacher – despite his strong relationship with team principal Toto Wolff.
Sauber, though always a more feasible destination than the Silver Arrows, has not been heavily linked with the 25-year-old for most of the year.
Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon were the two primary targets for the Hinwil-based team at the beginning of 2024. In more recent weeks, Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as a candidate of interest for Audi-owned Sauber.
However, a new report from German outlet Auto-Motor-Und-Sport suggests that Mick Schumacher is now in contention.
This development is largely attributed to Mattia Binotto, who is starting to direct Audi towards the path he believes is correct.
The former Ferrari team principal is considering several options for 2025, and will likely take several months before reaching a final verdict.
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Audi still evaluating numerous drivers
Of course, there is nothing concrete about Schumacher’s chances at Audi. It is only understood that he is on the German manufacturer’s radar.
Whilst this provides hope for the 25-year-old, who could complete an all-German driver line-up, there are still plenty of unknowns.
There are still several other candidates who could become Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate in 2025. The team’s existing drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, are not necessarily out of the race either.
Moreover, because Schumacher is not racing in F1, it will be easier for active drivers. Gabriel Bortoleto can also make a significant impact in the remainder of his Formula 2 campaign.
That said, the situation at Audi is dynamic enough that Mick Schumacher can be considered a name to watch.
