Mick Schumacher hopes for Audi. The future Formula 1 factory team still has a regular cockpit available for 2025. But the competition is strong.
Will Mick Schumacher return to Formula 1?
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Mick Schumacher can still have hopes of returning to Formula 1. “We are considering him as a potential driver. He is on our list,” said Mattia Binotto, head of Audi’s Formula 1 project, to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.” He praised the German: “I know Mick’s potential, his strengths and weaknesses. He is a very consistent and overall fast driver, a team player who works hard.”
Audi will start in 2026 as the new works team in the premier motorsport class; for the coming season, the racing team with the current name Kick Sauber will have the only free cockpit left. The 25-year-old Schumacher hopes to get this place, but has strong competition from, among others, Finnish veteran Valtteri Bottas.
Binotto: Don’t just judge drivers based on their speed
The Italian Binotto also doesn’t seem completely convinced by the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher. “On some tracks he needs a few more attempts to set the fastest lap,” said the 54-year-old. But: Schumacher is “a great guy”, that’s important: “You don’t just have to judge the drivers by how fast they are, but also by their attitude.” A decision should be made before November as to who will take second place alongside the German Nico Hülkenberg.
Binotto knows Schumacher very well from their time together at Ferrari. He was once team boss of the Scuderia, and Schumacher was driving in the Italian youth program at the time. In 2021 and 2022, Schumacher was a regular driver for the US team Haas, but could not recommend himself for a new contract. He is currently a reserve driver for Mercedes and also races in the World Endurance Championship for the French manufacturer Alpine. His big goal remains to return to Formula 1.
