F1: Schumacher’s fate may have been sealed for good

On paper, there are still two seats available for next year’s Formula 1 season, but with RB (VCARB) giving Liam Lawson the opportunity to compete in Daniel Ricciardo’s place from the American Grand Prix, only one question remains: who will be Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate in the At Sauber?

This does not matter from the point of view that from 2026 the Swiss team will be transformed into Audi’s factory team, and although based on previous press reports it seemed that there were two candidates left for the remaining seat, somehow Mick Schumacher’s name also entered the hat after the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s son slipped from his Alpine seat.

A Bild however, according to his information, it has already been decided who will make up Sauber’s driver line-up for 2025,

and the decision is not favorable for Mick Schumacher – which could easily mean that the 25-year-old German has no way back into the king category.

The reformed staff of the future Audi – led by Mattia Binotto, the former team boss of Ferrari – has given a vote of confidence to Valtteri Bottas, so the 35-year-old Finnish contract can be extended by another year. No official announcement has yet been made, in fact, it has reported contradictory developments F1-Insider.com: the German portal knows that not only has the agreement not been signed, not even a decision has been made. With this, however, not only Schumacher, but also the F2 leader Gabriel Bortoleto, who is gaining ground at McLaren, and the Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich may still have hope.

However, Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s consultant, has already formed an opinion in case Sauber really chooses Bottas.

“I’m sure Audi won’t have a winning car next year. With this, neither Audi nor the competitors would be under pressure, and there would be a good basis for comparison with Hülkenberg” – argued the 81-year-old Austrian, why it would not be risky to sign Schumacher. “If it didn’t do well, there would still be an opportunity for them to change for 2026.”

“However, if it is really about Bottas getting the opportunity, then this is even more incomprehensible to me” stated the Sport.de Marko’s columns. “I think that if Schumacher doesn’t get a seat from Audi, Formula 1 is over for him. In this case, you have to focus on long-term races and the WEC, if you are already successful. If you want to continue to compete, you have to find something that you like, but also has a chance to win.”

Mick Schumacher entered the premier class with Haas in 2021, but had to leave the team after two seasons. Although Günther Steiner, the head of the American team at the time, admitted that the young German did not have enough time to prove himself, he was repeatedly criticized – even afterwards – for his serial car crashes.

Mick Schumacher (right) with his teammates Nicolas Lapierre (left) and Mathieu Vaxiviére (centre) on the podium after the Fuji 6h win. The trio took Alpine’s first podium in the WEC. (Photo by James Moy Photography/Getty Images)

After his dismissal, he got a job as a test and reserve driver at Mercedes, and this year he is competing for Alpine – not in Formula 1, but in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Schumacher is considered one of the strongest drivers of the French, who also achieved his first podium result in the series in the last six-hour race held in Fuji.