Audi could save Mick Schumacher’s F1 career but may have to take a sabbatical for 2023.
Audi has announced that it will enter F1 in 2026 when new F1 engine regulations are implemented. Alfa Romeo has announced that its current naming deal with Sauber will end at the end of the 2023 season.
F1-insider says speculation that Audi will buy 75% of the Hinwil-based Sauber F1 team, which currently races as Alfa Romeo, could be announced ahead of F1 Singapore later this month.
An F1 insider also says Audi wants a German driver, but that may have to wait until the end of 2023 when the contracts between Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou expire.
However, Chinese rookie Zhou Guanyu’s contract for 2023 has yet to be announced.
“For sure we haven’t chosen a team yet, so we haven’t chosen a driver yet,” said Audi chairman Markus Duesmann.
“Hopefully we get a German driver and we can race in Germany. That’s all I can say.”
If Alfa Romeo doesn’t have a vacancy in 2023, Mick Schumacher may have to spend a year as a non-racing reserve driver for the 2023 season, like Daniel Ricciardo, who was sacked by McLaren. And the Mercedes F1 team could be both options.
“Mick is a big personality,” said Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff.
“He’s got talent, he’s fast. He needs more time.”
“If a place becomes available, we always choose the best performing driver. Mick is definitely on our radar.”
“But at the moment, our two cars are buried.”
Category: F1 / Mick Schumacher / audio
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