Nov.12 (GMM) Mick Schumacher seems set to pivot away from his System 1 dream.
When Audi-owned Sauber introduced that it has signed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto fairly than Valtteri Bottas or Schumacher, Mattia Binotto insisted the 25-year-old German would have been a “sensible choice” amongst “many candidates”.
The Audi F1 boss added: “I do know him very effectively from the previous and I do know his strengths and maybe additionally his weaknesses.”
Since being ousted by former Haas boss Gunther Steiner on the finish of 2022, Michael Schumacher’s son has been Mercedes’ F1 reserve while additionally racing for Alpine on the planet endurance championship.
However now, Mercedes is predicted to signal Bottas for the primary reserve function subsequent 12 months.
Mick’s uncle Ralf Schumacher admits returning to System 1 to race is now “fairly unrealistic” for his nephew. “The query is, who would be the substitute drivers and the place?
“Or will he now focus on his endurance profession as an alternative?”
German pundit Christian Danner recommends Schumacher attempt his hand at Indycar, however Auto Motor und Sport believes Alpine is just ready for Mick to signal an extension for 2025 to his present WEC dedication.
Nonetheless, Kronen Zeitung newspaper reviews: “Mick additionally had a suggestion from Ferrari.”
The Austrian publication is referring to Ferrari’s WEC program. As outlined by Binotto, the Maranello primarily based marque is aware of Schumacher effectively from his time within the driver growth academy.
“Mick had additionally thought-about a transfer to Indycar, however staying with Alpine in WEC appears the almost definitely choice,” Kronen Zeitung added.
That’s as a result of Ferrari was reportedly demanding that Schumacher convey sponsorship with a view to fund the WEC seat. “So the choice finally went in favour of the Briton Philip Hanson,” the report stated.
Nonetheless, Schumacher might be in good firm on the fabled Le Mans 24 hour race subsequent 12 months, with Porsche not ruling out a seat for quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.
“We’re wanting one driver, that’s mathematically true,” Porsche’s WEC boss Urs Kuratle advised sportscar365. When requested particularly about Vettel’s candidacy, he admitted: “I’m not ruling it out.”
Earlier, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone claimed he talked 37-year-old Vettel out of his “dream” of launching a comeback to System 1.
“I needed to discuss him out of his comeback desires,” stated Ecclestone, 94. “Why ought to a four-time world champion put himself by way of that?” he advised Blick newspaper.
