Mick Schumacher has one last chance to return to F1 in 2025

A German driver back in Formula 1? While the past few weeks have seen some drivers confirmed for 2025, such as Sainz who will drive for Williams or more recently the Australian promoted to Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly, Audi does not seem to have made a decision yet on the identity of its second driver next year. While many names have come up recently, such as Alex Palou, Gabriel Bortoleto, or even four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, a driver could take advantage of this opportunity to make a comeback in the sport: Mick Schumacher.

Towards Schumacher’s arrival at Audi?

The German had indeed been ousted from Haas at the end of 2022 after two seasons with the American team. Insufficient performances and numerous errors had led the team, formerly led by Günther Steiner, to replace him with Nico Hülkenberg for the 2023 season. However, these two men could find themselves in the same team next year, as the Haas driver has been confirmed to join the future Audi team early in the season. This is what some experts claim, who believe that the son of the seven-time world champion deserves another chance in Formula 1 to prove his talent.

This is notably the opinion of former Swiss Formula 1 driver turned consultant, Marc Surer, who would like to see Schumacher given another chance in Formula 1, arguing that he did not show all his potential previously at Haas. The chances are becoming increasingly slim. Only Audi remains really. I was quite harsh in my judgment of Mick as a Formula 1 driver. But also because I think he has not used all his talent. Because I believe in his talent! The guy is fast, he proved it in Formula 2. He was also excellent at overtaking. So, he has something. He couldn’t show that in Formula 1, for some reason.

Helmut Marko, the head of the Red Bull young driver program, shares this view, emphasizing the German driver’s kind nature and talent that he has already demonstrated on the track, especially in the lower categories. His name, however, may represent a handicap. But he won the title in F3 and then in F2, which made him attractive, and the teams he has worked with are praising him. I would be happy for him if Audi seriously considered him for 2025, because he deserves it.

For the Austrian, Schumacher was not treated well by the Haas team, which quickly decided to part ways with him while the German seemed to be getting the better of his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen in 2022, finishing ahead of him 13 times in the 21 Grand Prix they finished together in 2022.

Schumacher proved his talent in the antechamber of Formula 1, having been able to win the Formula 3 championship in 2018 and the Formula 2 championship in 2020 with Prema, each time in his second season in the category. At the same time, to secure a seat, he benefits from a rather favorable context, as Sauber’s performances have been catastrophic this season, which is starting to demotivate the drivers, especially Valtteri Bottas, according to Marc Surer.

Sauber drivers frustrated by the lack of performance of the car.

The Finn, despite a certain optimism, is becoming impatient with the results and pace of Sauber, a team that also has to deal with significant changes within the structure, a reorganization that will take time to be well-balanced.

“I mean, it’s certain that the focus is on here and now, but also on the future. So, it’s always a matter of compromise, and we’ve had recent changes, once again, in the team, so things will just take some time to stabilize,” explained the former Mercedes driver to Planet F1.

A not so idyllic situation for current drivers, which can benefit others, such as Mick Schumacher, especially as the prospect of having a 100% German line-up strongly interests Audi. As Formula 1 enters its last 9 race weekends, Audi is taking its time before announcing its driver. Many names are likely to join the team, forcing them to make a difficult but necessary choice if they want to prepare for the future, namely Audi’s arrival in 2026.