For the coming season, Mick Schumacher is still without a team after leaving Haas. Image: www.imago-images.de / imago images
formula 1
Actually, the coming Formula 1 season will not start again for four months, when the first World Championship points will be contested in Bahrain on March 5th. But shortly before the end of the year there was another big bang.
Because now that all the cockpits are occupied in the premier class of motorsport, the team bosses are beginning to move their chairs.
Three racing teams announced a change at the top on Tuesday morning. And that could also have a positive impact on Mick Schumacher.
Because after his contract with the Haas team expired and he was replaced by Nico Hülkenberg, he will definitely not occupy a cockpit as a regular driver in the coming season.
Numerous team bosses change – to the advantage of Mick Schumacher
Schumacher is currently the big favorite for a place as a test driver at Mercedes for the 2023 season. But with the changes at the top of the teams, new options could present themselves more quickly to him in the years that followed.
After Mattia Binotto leaves Ferrari, Frederic Vasseur, who comes from Alfa Romeo, takes over there. Andreas Seidl, who previously worked for McLaren, will take over the vacant position. There he is again replaced by Andrea Stella.
Mick Schumacher played particularly the change of Andreas Seidl in the cards. Although he is now the boss of Alfa Romeo, the name sponsorship expires in 2023. Actually stands behind the name of the Swiss racing team Sauber. In 2026, Sauber will then officially become the works team of the German manufacturer Audi.
RTL Formula 1 reporter Felix Görner therefore speculates: “Maybe Mick could start a long-term project next year.”
After the loss of Alfa Romeo, Audi could already take on a first sponsorship role in 2024 and Mick could become part of the team at an early stage. In addition, the contract of the Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu currently only runs for the coming season.
Ralf Schumacher fuels rumors about Mick at Alfa Romeo
For Sky expert and Mick Schumacher’s uncle Ralf, the many changes in personnel are no surprise: “These teams have to take the next step,” he said Sky Sports News.
The fact that Seidl from Passau is now going to Alfa Romeo, the future Audi team, is “worth a lot of money” for Ralf Schumacher. And he’s sure: “It’s going to work pretty well.”
He is also looking forward to the current and future driver constellation around his nephew. “I’m curious what ideas Andi has with the drivers. There are also a lot of rumours.”
And he even fueled it a little himself. DAccording to his information, the experienced Valtteri Bottas in particular was counted, said Schumacher. He shouldn’t necessarily stay with the team for long.
Then a place for Mick Schumacher would be free again in a year at the latest.
For RTL reporter Görner, it is even the most likely option that Schumacher will join the future Audi team. The appeal of going to Audi is much greater than the replacement role at Mercedes. “I think Mick Schumacher will make that choice.”