Mick Schumacher Advised To Say No To Audi-Sauber

2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Thursday Sebastian Kawka
2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Thursday - Mick Schumacher (image courtesy Mercedes)
2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Thursday Sebastian Kawka
2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Thursday - Mick Schumacher (image courtesy Mercedes)

A German racing legend thinks Mick Schumacher should turn down the opportunity to return to the Formula 1 grid next year with Audi-owned Sauber.

Audi’s Sauber takeover and works F1 project for 2026 has been troubled so far, with top drivers like Carlos Sainz turning down the opportunity to join in 2025 and now parent company Volkswagen in a deep financial crisis.

However, the marque continues to add big names to its roster, alongside figures like new overall Audi F1 chief Mattia Binotto and Red Bull’s Jonathan Wheatley.

The latest additions are new engineering boss Giampaolo Dall’Ara, and former Ferrari strategy boss Inaki Rueda – demoting the long-serving Beat Zehnder to a lesser role.

On the driver front, Nico Hulkenberg is already signed up for 2025 and beyond, and it is believed Valtteri Bottas and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto are now vying to be the German’s teammate.

However, amid the long delay in Binotto actually signing up Hulkenberg’s teammate, another potential candidate is still waiting in the wings – Mick Schumacher.

The 25-year-old has been on the sidelines since 2022 as Mercedes’ reserve driver, pairing that role in 2023 with a prototype WEC race seat with Alpine.

F1 legend Hans-Joachim Stuck advises Schumacher to turn down Audi-Sauber if a solid offer does come in.

“For me, Mick would be in the wrong place at Audi,” the 73-year-old told Eurosport.

He thinks a struggling team like Sauber in 2025 sets Schumacher up for a repeat of his Haas nightmare under Gunther Steiner.

“He has already been through this story once,” Stuck, a two-time Le Mans winner, said of Schumacher.

Referring to Steiner’s former reign at Haas, Stuck accuses him of “destroying a young man who was still gaining his first experiences through stupidity and a lack of empathy”.

“That’s unacceptable. Steiner has harmed Schumacher for his entire life,” Stuck insisted.

But that is also why Stuck thinks Audi is “the wrong path” for the son of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher.

“He simply will not find the same standards there that he would find at the other teams,” he said. “They need to redevelop everything from scratch.

“In the first year he wouldn’t have a chance there,” Stuck, who contested over 70 grands prix in the 70s, added.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

F1 Grand Prix Of Canada

McLaren Driver Equality Is ‘Playing With Fire’

As far as championship leader Oscar Piastri is concerned, he ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Austria Previews

Max Verstappen Explains Ongoing F1 Media Attitude

Max Verstappen giggled to the Dutch media as he explained ...
Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly Called Management After Shock CEO Exit

Pierre Gasly says he followed through on contacting management after ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Singapore Final Practice

Sergio Pérez Claims Red Bull Regrets Dropping Him

Pérez says Red Bull “very sorry” for ending his contract, ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Canada

Verstappen, Wolff Not Fans Of Le Mans Rules

Toto Wolff has joined Formula 1 rival Max Verstappen in ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle