Does Mick Schumacher have a chance of a comeback as a regular driver in Formula 1 at short notice because of the rumours about a driver change at AlphaTauri? In an interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko initially refused to be drawn on the matter.
Now he has become a little clearer resulting in Daniel Ricciardo not being included in their plans. Formula 1 rookie Nyck de Vries is under a lot of pressure after a disastrous start to the season. The Dutchman had to experience first-hand in recent weeks how quickly the dream of a life as an F1 driver could end.
Nyck under scrutiny
After five starts in 2023, in which he never managed to finish higher than 14th in his AlphaTauri, the 28-year-old is now under special scrutiny by the bosses. Moreover, he is clearly inferior to his Japanese colleague Yuki Tsunoda so far.
Therefore, there have been rumours recently that de Vries could lose his regular place after the first three European races in Imola, Monaco and Barcelona. The first candidate was Red Bull substitute Daniel Ricciardo. The name Mick Schumacher, who is under contract with Mercedes, has also been mentioned recently.
MORE F1 NEWS: Briatore expects little from Ferrari
Nyck De Vries under a lot of pressure: “Must improve”
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko now clarified the procedure with AlphaTauri to F1 Insider website: “Nothing will happen in the next three races. We have spoken to de Vries and he is of the same opinion as us: He has to improve.”
The gap to teammate Yuki Tsunoda, “who is doing a great job, is too big,” Marko elaborated: “To use footballer’s language: Nick got the yellow card, but not the red yet. If he improves, a driver change will not be issued.”
However, should a driver change actually take place during the season, neither Mick Schumacher nor Daniel Ricciardo would be options. Schumacher is a “Mercedes driver and he is not in our plans. Accordingly, Toto Wolff is responsible for him,” said the 80-year-old about the personnel plans at the sister racing team.
READ MORE: Tangled rumours surround Hamilton/LeClerc swap
Will Wolff take care of Mick’s F1 comeback?
Instead, AlphaTauri could give its own young drivers a chance: “If the worst came to the worst, we would fall back on our pool of young talent. We are talking specifically about Liam Lawson and Ayumu Iwasa. Ricciardo is not an issue.”
Lawson had already been considered as one of the possible Formula 1 up-and-comers for 2023, but the New Zealander is now racing in Super Formula for the time being. Iwasa will compete in Formula 2.
For Mick Schumacher, meanwhile, a switch to Williams could become an option. US newcomer Logan Sargeant has not been convincing there so far. Williams is supplied with engines by Mercedes. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff could put in a good word for test driver Schumacher at Williams. According to information from Sport1 website, Wolff has promised the German that he will try to secure a regular place in Formula 1.
MORE F1 NEWS – Insider advises Hamilton: “Get out of Mercedes”
Very much doubt Williams will off the yank or will Nyck get the red card this season.
No clear-cut indication has come out that Williams would be unhappy about Sargeant’s performance, so seemingly unfounded rumor.
Yes, he made costly errors in the Australian & Miami GPs.
However, most importantly, he quickly proved an improvement from Latifi & has, on average, been closer to Albon, etc., so overall, he’s done decently okay.
Therefore, any sacking rumors at this point seem unfounded.
Williams promoted him to F1 with a longer-term view, so I doubt they’d easily sack him unless he truly underperformed, which hasn’t happened.
Toto’s 5% wouldn’t give him a loud enough voice in who drives for the team.
It sounds like all the fuss being made of Ham, sounds like the English commentators are all IN love with him. Lot of g..s by the sound to me.