F1 News: Schumacher, not Bottas, should secure Audi seat – Surer (Update)

(GMM) Mick Schumacher is “definitely” an option to complete an all-German driver lineup at Audi-owned Sauber in 2025.

Mere days and weeks ago, it appeared that the former Haas driver’s Formula 1 dream could be over, with Sauber apparently set to re-sign Valtteri Bottas.

But Mattia Binotto, the new overall boss of Audi F1, told Corriere della Sera newspaper that he actually hasn’t decided.

“We can afford the luxury of taking our time because all the other teams have already set their lineups,” said the former Ferrari team boss.

“There are two main options – on the one hand, experience to put us on the growth path, and on the other hand, a young, talented driver who can accompany us on the way to the top.”

Binotto already knows Schumacher, 25, from the German’s days in the Ferrari development program.

“We are definitely looking at him,” he confirmed. “I have met him and spoken to him. I have known him for a long time as he was part of the Ferrari academy. I know his strengths and advantages.

“He is one of the names we have in mind,” Binotto said.

He warned, however, that Audi may need to wait as long as 2030 for success in F1. Sauber is currently dead last in 2024 and yet to score even a single point.

“The whole team needs to be turned upside down,” said Binotto. “The difference to Ferrari, for example, is huge, from the facilities to the people to the tools.

“I see a lot of similarities with the Ferrari that I started at in 1995,” he said.

(GMM) Mick Schumacher should secure the last remaining vacancy on the 2025 grid, according to a former Formula 1 driver.

With Carlos Sainz now signed to Williams, rookie Jack Doohan securing the Alpine seat, and RB likely to field Liam Lawson, only Audi-owned Sauber is still completely undecided about its second and final place for next year.

The candidates are numerous, including incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou, and perhaps even the New Zealander Lawson or the retired Sebastian Vettel.

But Schumacher, the Mercedes reserve and Alpine WEC driver, has also been linked with the seat – to complete an all-German lineup for Audi next to Nico Hulkenberg.

Schumacher was recently a very real contender for the Alpine seat that his friend Doohan, 21, has now secured, with the pair recently going head-to-head in a shootout test.

“Mick would have had to be significantly faster than Doohan to get that seat,” Marc Surer, a former F1 driver, told formel1.de. “If they were similar, Alpine must have said ‘We’ll take our own young driver’, which makes sense.”

If Schumacher, 25, does not land the Audi job, his Formula 1 hopes are likely to be forever dashed, given that he has not contested a grand prix since losing his Haas seat at the end of 2022.

“The chances are getting smaller and smaller,” Surer admitted. “Audi is the only option left.

“Before they give another chance to Bottas, who is driving around unmotivated, they could give Mick another chance,” he added.

“I judged Mick pretty harshly as a Formula 1 driver, but also because I believe he didn’t use his talent, which I believe in. The guy is fast, which he proved in Formula 2. He also overtook really well. So there’s something in him,” Surer continued.

“He wasn’t able to show that in Formula 1, for whatever reason. Especially with (Kevin) Magnussen, he just looked a bit bad, but I think he wasn’t able to show his potential. I hope he gets another chance.”