P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mick Schumacher has been a contender for multiple seats since his F1 exit. But why has he consistently missed out?
Despite the controversial comments made by James Vowles during the Italian Grand Prix weekend regarding Mick Schumacher, it appears that F1 teams do not consider Schumacher a top priority. As a Mercedes reserve driver, Schumacher’s F1 prospects seem uncertain, especially after being passed over by Williams and Alpine for their 2024 and 2025 vacancies. The question arises whether Schumacher’s chances in F1 are dwindling and if he has been unfairly overlooked. While he is expected to remain a Mercedes reserve next season and continue racing in the WEC, his ultimate goal is an F1 race return.
Looking ahead to 2025, the main remaining F1 seat appears to be at Sauber, which will be fully owned by Audi and might favor Valtteri Bottas, though a partnership with Nico Hulkenberg remains a distant possibility. Despite his ties to Audi’s F1 boss Mattia Binotto, Schumacher’s chances at a full-time F1 drive based on merit seem slim. While opportunities may arise due to unforeseen circumstances, Schumacher’s career hangs in the balance. Many believe that F1 has not given Schumacher a fair chance, including Red Bull’s Helmut Marko, suggesting he was mistreated during his time at Haas. Schumacher’s hope for a permanent F1 drive is fading, but his experience keeps him in the running.
