F1: Schumacher ‘ready’ to replace struggling Sargeant (Update)

(GMM) Toto Wolff has played down new reports linking Mick Schumacher with an imminent return to the grid.

Rumors in Montreal suggested the 24-year-old axed Haas driver is now being recommended by his new boss, Mercedes’ Wolff, as a replacement for struggling rookie Logan Sargeant at Mercedes-powered Williams.

“I think whoever wants him would get a good driver,” Wolff said of Schumacher, who was signed as Mercedes’ official reserve driver for 2023.

“But, ultimately, the other teams have to decide for themselves which drivers they want. I can’t tell the teams we have contracts with to take our reserve driver,” he is quoted by Speed Week.

“But yes, I think they’re missing out on something.”

However, Wolff says keeping Schumacher at Mercedes is a boost to the German team as it works to return to the very front of the grid.

“We have another mature, successful and experienced Formula 1 driver on the team to support us,” he said. “Both in the simulator and with his feedback.

“At some of the European races, it is a huge advantage if you have someone like that sitting in the simulator on Friday evening and working through the data for Saturday.

“Besides, if one of our drivers ever has fish poisoning – or avocado poisoning in Lewis’ case – we know we’ve got a great guy in the car who can drive well.

“But as much as I like this situation from the point of view of our team, I would like Mick to be able to race himself.”

However, he admits that Schumacher’s situation is now politically complex, explaining: “Honestly, I think he was burned last year.”

He is referring not only to the high-profile Haas ousting, but rumors of subsequently failed negotiations between Mercedes and Red Bull.

“I never talked to Red Bull management about whether Mick can get a place in their team,” Wolff insisted, according to motorsport-total.com.

“It would be a waste of time.”

(GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is “ready” to jump back onto the Formula 1 grid – even within the 2024 season.

The German magazine Sport Bild says the axed Haas driver, who is now Mercedes’ official test and reserve driver, is being eyed by both Williams and Sauber for 2024.

However, there are also rumors that, in the wake of his almost 150 laps in the current Mercedes car at the recent Pirelli test in Barcelona, Mercedes-powered Williams might be considering him for an imminent return to the grid.

The rumor suggests that James Vowles, the former Mercedes strategist who is now Williams’ new boss, was never a supporter of the team’s American rookie Logan Sargeant.

Together with the similarly-struggling rookie Nyck de Vries, the Dutchman and Sargeant are the only drivers in the 2023 field yet to score a single point.

When asked about the possibility of a mid-season return to F1, 24-year-old Schumacher told RTL: “I would do it.

“Of course it’s unlikely that something like this will happen. There are also contracts that are mostly kept to.

“But basically I believe that every team is a good option. I’m always ready for action.

“Believe me, I am working very hard to hopefully be back in a car soon. Very soon. By next year at the latest it should be that time for me again.

“I’m sure something will develop in the near future,” said Schumacher.