Sauber are evaluating Mick Schumacher: Why Vowles' harsh comment was right
Column
Only two seats remain open in F1. While the scenarios seem to be clear at VCARB and now it is only up to how the drivers will perform there, Sauber (currently competing under the name Stake F1) are yet to announce Nico Hülkenberg's teammate for 2025. Mattia Binotto's team are taking their time to make their decision, with another driver, Mick Schumacher once again entering the picture.
Binotto says they are 'evaluating' Schumacher
Rumours have previously suggested that signing Valtteri Bottas was done and dusted. However, talking to Corriere della Sera, the team's COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto, has revealed that Mick Schumacher is still in the picture.
"Definitely, we are evaluating him. I know the merits and advantages of him, he is one of the names we have in mind," the Italian said, who also worked with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.
So far, he has only received disappointing news as he still chases the Formula One dream. After he was let go by Haas, many teams passed on signing the German, as they all opted for rookies. Getting the Mercedes seat was a long shot, as the Germans opted for their 'project Verstappen' by promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli early.
What possibly hurt more was missing out on becoming Pierre Gasly's teammate at Alpine, as Schumacher drives for the French team in WEC. That seat was given to their junior driver, Jack Doohan. Then, Williams decided to promote Franco Colapinto after Logan Sargeant was substituted out instead of signing the German until Carlos Sainz joined the team next year.
Why was Vowles right
When the British team principal was asked why Colapinto was chosen instead of the German, James Vowles said the line he now regrets. It was the harsh truth of why four teams had passed on him, as he said that Schumacher is 'not special, but only good'.
Undoubtedly, a driver has to be special to make it to Formula One, but once you get to the competition, you are evaluated based on how the most special drivers in the world are doing alongside you. From that viewpoint, Mick Schumacher could not leave a positive impression at Haas as other drivers did. Many drivers' special qualities can shine through even at a weaker team. Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. Charles Leclerc at Alfa Romeo. They all left lasting impressions, earning drives at top teams. Even with having the worst car on the grid, there was no doubt that George Russell would eventually get promoted to Mercedes.
Mick Schumacher was unable to leave a lasting impression during his time in F1 so far. He undoubtedly had some highlights with Haas, for example, the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, but also several lowlights, including badly damaging his car that season at two of the most difficult and very technical tracks in Saudi Arabia and Monaco.
Looking at Sauber's current options, two candidates also outshine the former Haas driver. If the team prefers to go with experience, Valtteri Bottas is already within the team's ranks. The Finnish driver earned his place previously fair and square at Mercedes after Nico Rosberg decided to retire, and on his day, he could be the fastest man on some tracks. Occasionally, he even outperformed a driver like Lewis Hamilton. Since then, he has also proved he is a steady midfield driver, and since declared, he is driving at his highest level now. The team must have the data to back that up if he is correct.
Looking at promoting a Formula 2 driver for next season, Sauber need to go no further than who is in P1 currently in the standings and who is yet to have an F1 seat for 2025. Gabriel Bortoleto also won the F3 championship the previous season, and the McLaren driver is, to say the least, very unlikely to replace Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri for now. Betting on the driver who turns 20 years old tomorrow makes more sense, as he has a higher 'ceiling'. And if the team were to opt for a driver having a higher 'floor', there is Bottas, who demonstrated that he has one of the highest of that quality in his entire career.
Germany is synonymous with motorsports, but having Mick Schumacher in the sport seems unlikely to draw significant extra attention, given that the country will have two power unit suppliers from 2026 onwards, and with a stronger and ever-consistent Nico Hülkenberg, Audi already have a German driver signed. Moreover, German fans were already able to see two compatriots dominate the competition on two occasions in the 2000s, with Mick's father Michael Schumacher and Vettel.
Unless Schumacher has the right connections, a return still seems hard to imagine, given the other teams' previous verdicts on him. That can only open for more doors to compete full-time elsewhere and to complete a very successful motorsport career.
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