A press release on the morning of Wednesday, November 6, has shattered Mick Schumacher’s dreams of returning as a Formula 1 driver in 2025. The Sauber team announced that Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto will be joining the line-up next season alongside Nico Hülkenberg. This seems to extinguish the last glimmer of hope for Schumacher’s comeback in Formula 1. Former F1 drivers Christian Danner and Damon Hill suggest that the end of his Formula 1 career appears imminent.
‘Three years without a permanent seat is too long’
Formula 1 analyst Christian Danner holds little hope for Schumacher’s return as a permanent driver. “This signifies the end of his Formula 1 career,” Danner states in the German publication Bild. “Three consecutive years without a permanent seat is too long. Mick must accept and realize that Formula 1 is not his only option. There are other interesting opportunities for him, such as IndyCar.”
Despite his experience at Haas as a driver and at Mercedes as a test driver, Schumacher no longer has a knowledge advantage in 2026. With the introduction of a new technical regulation, his technical knowledge of older models is no longer relevant, further diminishing his chances.
Criticism of Schumacher’s Approach
Former world champion Damon Hill has explained that Schumacher has shown potential, but not the consistency required for a permanent spot in Formula 1. “Mick is a solid driver, but not someone who wins races or takes titles. If he wants another chance in Formula 1, he needs to come back as a different driver. He must realize that he cannot make compromises,” said Hill.
In the Formula 1 paddock, it is often said that Schumacher is ‘too friendly’, while younger talents such as Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, and Liam Lawson have fought uncompromisingly for their chances. These newcomers all have a seat for 2025, further reducing the opportunities for Schumacher.
A Hopeless Role as a Reserve Driver?
Schumacher now seems to be left with only the role of reserve driver at Mercedes, but Danner warns that this could be a dead end, especially if he only serves as a replacement for young talent like Antonelli. Toto Wolff has stated that he hardly had to think before choosing Antonelli to succeed Hamilton, which means he did not even consider Schumacher. “If Mercedes really had confidence in Mick, they would have organized test days for him,” Danner asserts. “But that didn’t happen, and another team seems to have little interest in this as well.”
