Last Updated on October 16 2024, 12:48 pm
Expert assesses Mick Schumacher’s chances of F1 return: “Still real” that we will see a Mick Schumacher Formula 1 comeback – Mick Schumacher’s journey back to Formula One remains alive, buoyed by recent optimistic comments from Sauber/Audi team boss Mattia Binotto. Despite a year of challenges and disappointments, hopes for Schumacher’s return to the sport’s premier series have not been extinguished.
In an interview with sport.de, RTL reporter and Formula 1 expert Felix Görner gives an insight into the situation, reveals why Binotto didn’t immediately secure Schumacher’s place in the team and what could still work in the young German’s favour.
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The potential at Sauber/Audi
“His chances at Sauber/Audi are still real,” Görner confirmed to sport.de, suggesting that Schumacher is still very much in the running for a Formula One seat in 2025.
This statement comes despite the challenges Schumacher has faced over the past year, including his departure from Haas and a reserve driver role with Mercedes, which has kept him in the F1 orbit without a guaranteed seat.
While Schumacher’s future with Sauber/Audi seems far from certain, there is still no definitive word on who will fill the seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 season.
“Sauber/Audi will not make a decision this week on the choice of driver for 2025 other than Nico Hülkenberg,” Görner revealed, citing internal team dynamics as one of the reasons for the delay.
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Bottas vs. Binotto: a poker game for the future
So what is causing the delay in Schumacher’s confirmation or rejection? According to Görner, the decision hinges on a high-stakes negotiation between Valtteri Bottas and Sauber/Audi team boss Mattia Binotto.
“At the moment there is a poker game going on between Valtteri Bottas on the one hand and Sauber/Audi team boss Mattia Binotto on the other about the amount of the fee,” said Görner.
Bottas, a seasoned Formula One veteran, has been linked with an extension with Sauber/Audi. However, no final agreement has been reached, with reports suggesting that the two parties are at odds over the financial terms of the deal.
“There are still significant differences in their expectations,” added Görner. These differences offer a glimmer of hope for Schumacher, as Binotto may be considering a less costly and potentially more lucrative option in the form of the German driver.
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Binotto’s strategic gamble
Interestingly, Binotto’s delay in finalising his 2025 line-up may be a carefully calculated move.
Görner explained: “Binotto is playing for time now. He can do that because he has a very good joker in reserve in Mick Schumacher.”
The Italian engineer and former Ferrari team principal is well aware of Schumacher’s abilities, having worked closely with him during his time at the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2019 to 2022. As such, Binotto has a unique understanding of Schumacher’s strengths and weaknesses, which gives him a clear perspective on whether to bet on Schumacher for a long-term place in F1.
“This means that Binotto has a transparent Mick Schumacher in front of him, whose potential he can assess very accurately. So Schumacher’s chances are still there. That is de facto the case,” stresses Görner.
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Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 journey
The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, Mick has been under enormous pressure throughout his career. His F1 journey began with high expectations when he joined Haas in 2021. However, after two seasons of mixed results and costly crashes, Schumacher was dropped by the American team at the end of 2022, leaving his future uncertain. He was taken on by Mercedes as a reserve driver, but the opportunity to race competitively in F1 eluded him in 2023.
This year has largely been a waiting game for the young German, with occasional testing and support roles, but no race seat.
Despite this, Schumacher’s commitment to motorsport has been unwavering. Alongside his Mercedes duties, he has also been active in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine’s endurance division, where he finished on the podium at the Fuji race earlier this year. This performance could potentially boost his chances of being considered for a Formula One seat, as Binotto and Sauber/Audi continue to weigh up their options.
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Final race in Bahrain could tip the balance
A key moment for Schumacher could come at the final race of the WEC season in Sakhir, Bahrain. Görner pointed out that another strong performance in this endurance race could provide further evidence of Schumacher’s growing competence behind the wheel, and boost his bid for a return to F1.
“If he drives as well there as he did at Fuji, where he finished on the podium, it will be another argument for him to get good results again,” said Goerner. Such a performance could give Binotto even more reason to reconsider Schumacher, especially if contract negotiations with Bottas continue to stall.
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Why haven’t Sauber/Audi made a decision?
Given the growing interest in Schumacher’s possible return, many are wondering why Sauber/Audi haven’t made a quicker decision regarding their 2025 line-up. Originally, there was talk of a decision being made by the end of September. However, Binotto has decided to delay, presumably in order to gather more information about both the team’s future and the budget required to field a competitive squad in the coming years.
“Binotto has now gathered even more information about his factory, the development status of Audi and the driver issue and can now better evaluate where he wants to spend the budget in the next few years,” explained Görner. This means Binotto is thinking strategically, weighing up the cost of bringing in an established driver like Bottas against investing in the potential of a younger, cheaper driver like Schumacher.
“An overpriced driver like Bottas, who certainly won’t be a winner, would actually be a waste of money,” Görner concluded.
“In that respect, it is very, very clever of Binotto to play for time.”
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The future: Hope for German F1 fans
For German F1 fans, the prospect of seeing another Schumacher on the grid remains tantalising. Although nothing is guaranteed, Görner remains optimistic.
“The bottom line is: German F1 fans can continue to hope that Sauber/Audi have not yet made a decision.”
The story of Mick Schumacher is far from over. Whether his path leads back to the Formula One grid in 2025 or takes him on another motorsport journey, the resilience and determination of the young German continues to capture the imagination of fans around the world. With Mattia Binotto at the helm and the Sauber/Audi team yet to finalise their driver line-up, Schumacher’s chances, as Görner pointed out, are “still real”.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
