Oct.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he’s staying “utterly impartial” about whether or not Audi-owned Sauber ought to enroll Mick Schumacher for 2025.
Insiders left Singapore after the latest grand prix satisfied that Valtteri Bottas was about to be re-signed.
However Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for Blick newspaper, says the 34-year-old Finn is now hesitating to simply accept a proposal of a mere one-year contract.
“What gave the impression to be only a formality is now Bottas wanting extra after three years of being rewarded with thousands and thousands,” he mentioned.
“How lengthy can he proceed to gamble, having not scored any factors in 28 races? Indycar could be a step down and so they definitely wouldn’t enable him to arrange a gin store within the paddock.”
The most important German newspaper Bild additionally suspects Bottas is dithering over the phrases of his proposed 2025 Sauber deal.
“In line with our info, Mick was not a part of new staff boss Mattia Binotto’s plans. Valtteri Bottas was imagined to be staying for an additional 12 months. The contract had already been ready,” mentioned correspondents Claudia Bothmann, Enrico Ahlig and Michel Milewski.
“However Bottas is playing for an excessive amount of cash,” they added. “If the veteran sticks to his excessive calls for, Mick Schumacher may very well be again within the recreation.”
Binotto revealed this week that Schumacher is “positively” an choice for 2025, and that he has met with the 25-year-old former Haas driver just lately.
In dialog with FAZ newspaper, he responded to claims that Schumacher is probably not the quickest driver within the System 1 paddock.
“On some tracks he wants a couple of extra makes an attempt to set the quickest lap,” Binotto admitted. “However you need to choose a driver not solely by how briskly they’re, but in addition by their angle.”
Present Haas driver Hulkenberg, 37, was signed up by Audi-Sauber for 2025 and past manner again in April. Schumacher as his teammate would full a tempting all-German driver lineup.
“The Audi manufacturing unit staff will in all probability gasoline a bit of curiosity in Germany once more,” Hulkenberg instructed Sport1. “German producer, German driver, and naturally a German GP could be fascinating for a automotive nation.”
Nonetheless, he was not ready to say if he would favor Bottas or Schumacher as his 2025 teammate.
“I’ve no agenda – I’m utterly impartial,” the German insists. “Firstly, I’ve no say within the matter, and secondly, the individuals in cost at Audi will resolve which driver duo will ship one of the best efficiency. I can’t intervene with that.”
Hulkenberg defined that he’s not pondering very a lot about his 2025 venture in any respect simply but.
“There’s not a lot I can do in the meanwhile,” he mentioned. “There’s not a lot I can affect that a lot and it’s not my job. I’m nonetheless one hundred pc at Haas and need to finish this chapter as efficiently and as positively as potential. So all my vitality and focus is on Haas.”
