Mick Schumacher was on the brink of realizing his dream of returning to Formula 1. Audi’s top executive, Mattia Binotto, reveals how the German driver was also a ‘very strong candidate’ for the Sauber seat alongside Nico Hülkenberg, but the Swiss team ultimately chose Gabriel Bortoleto.
Sauber announced in April that Nico Hülkenberg would be driving for the Swiss racing team from 2025, but for months it remained unclear who would be the German’s teammate. In November, the decision was finally made, and Sauber announced that McLaren reserve driver Gabriel Bortoleto would be taking the seat next to Hülkenberg.
However, Bortoleto was not the only driver in contention for the coveted Sauber spot. Alongside current F1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, former F1 driver Mick Schumacher was also an option. “We had discussions. (Schumacher) was certainly a strong candidate,” reveals Sauber boss Mattia Binotto, to Formula1.com.
“I know him very well from the past and I know his strengths and perhaps also his weaknesses, but I certainly think he would have been a good choice.” Binotto does not reveal why the choice ultimately did not fall on Schumacher, except that “we simply decided to go for Gabriel, and that’s it”.
Turning Point
For Bortoleto himself, the discussions with Sauber also marked a turning point in his Formula 2 season. “This season did not start so well in the beginning. We had no discussions or anything about next year,” says Bortoleto, at a press conference. “But at some point this season there was clearly a turning point. I started winning races and podium places. The happenings at Audi began. I don’t remember exactly when, but that’s when we started talking.
