Mick Schumacher seems ready to give up on his dream of one day returning to Formula 1.
When Audi-owned Sauber announced it had signed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto rather than Valtteri Bottas or Schumacher, Mattia Binotto insisted the 25-year-old German would have been a “good choice” among “many candidates”.
The Audi F1 boss added: “I know him very well from the past and I know his strengths and perhaps also his weaknesses”.
Since his ouster by former Haas boss Gunther Steiner at the end of 2022, Michael Schumacher's son has been Mercedes' replacement in F1 while racing for Alpine in the world endurance championship.
But now Mercedes are expected to sign Bottas for the main backup role next year.
Mick's uncle Ralf Schumacher admits a return to Formula 1 to race there is now “rather unrealistic” for his nephew. “The question is who will be the replacement drivers and where? Or will he now concentrate on his endurance career?”
Alpine expects Mick to sign an extension to 2025 of his current WEC commitment but the German had also received an offer from his former employer, Ferrari, for the WEC. With perhaps a reserve position in F1 at stake since Oliver Bearman was promoted to Haas F1 and Robert Shwartzmann is moving to Indycar.
But Ferrari would have demanded that Schumacher provide sponsorship in order to finance the seat in the WEC. The decision was therefore ultimately in favor of the British Philip Hanson.
If Schumacher continues well with Alpine in the WEC, Porsche does not rule out making a place for quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. Vettel had already tested a Hypercar this year but ultimately did not enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“We are missing a pilot, it's mathematically true,” said Urs Kuratle, Porsche's WEC boss.
When asked about Vettel's candidacy, he admitted: “I don’t rule it out.”.
