Mattia Binotto has questioned Toto Wolff’s handling of Mick Schumacher after the former overlooked the German driver for the vacancy at Stake F1.
The seat, alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Stake for 2025, was Schumacher’s last viable option to make a return to grand prix racing, after being ditched by Haas at the end of 2022.
Schumacher, who drove for Haas in 2021 and 2022, was also in the running for a drive with Stake, only for Sauber Motorsport boss Binotto to opt for F2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto instead.
At Mercedes, boss Wolff decided to promote rookie Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton, despite trying to push for a seat elsewhere for Schumacher.
It is something Binotto picked up on when asked if he seriously considered Schumacher as an option for the Stake seat.
“We had several talks, and he was certainly a strong candidate,” Binotto told media including 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.
“You should ask the same to Toto [Wolff]about why he signed Kimi [Antonelli] and not Mick.
“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.”
Belgium
