MICHAEL SCHUMACHER’S son, Mick, could be facing a premature end to his F1 career, according to reports.
The 25-year-old is set to miss out on a permanent seat for next season after spending 2024 as a Mercedes reserve driver.
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Mick was tipped for a seat with Sauber – soon to be Audi- but that now looks to be off the cards, according to Bild.
New Sauber boss Mattia Binotto allegedly favours keeping veteran ex- Mercedes driver Valtterri Bottas instead, whose contract expires this year.
If that happens, Schumacher will miss out on the last available remaining seat in F1 for the 2025 season.
Audi took a 100 per cent stake in Swiss operation Sauber in March, with the team set to debut in 2026.
Bottas – who previously helped Lewis Hamilton to several world titles at Mercedes – is believed to be wanted stay with current partner Nico Hulkenberg.
This is despite the fact that Bottas has failed to win a single point with Sauber and sitting bottom of the current F1 standings.
Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko believes this could spell the end of Schumacher’s time in F1.
Marko said: “I think if Schumacher doesn’t get this seat, then the Formula One story is over for him.
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“I think Audi’s car will certainly not be a winning car next year. There would have been no pressure for Audi or for the driver. There would be a good comparison with Hulkenberg.
“If it is really the case that Bottas gets the chance, then the whole thing is even more incomprehensible to me.”
Mick came through the ranks of the junior adaptations before joining Ferrari’s driver academy in 2019.
However, despite success in F2 and F3 formats, Schumacher struggled when he moved into the professional senior ranks with Haas.
He raced for two seasons for Haas, finishing 19th and 16th before being let go.
If he fails to secure his future, he will have the support of stunning fiance Laila Hasanovic, who is believed to be one of the few people outside the family allowed access to Michael’s exclusive inner circle.
The seven-time F1 champion has not been seen in public since he suffered a serious head injury after a skiing in the French Alps in December 2023.
But it is believed 55-year-old Michael was at his daughter’s wedding that was held at the family’s £27m mansion in Majorca last weekend.
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