By moving to Mercedes, Mick Schumacher is focused on returning to the F1 grid as soon as possible. The German was axed from Haas after a poor spell of runs and a lack of points.
Audi, who recently announced their plan to buy Sauber, will be entering F1 in 2026. As of now, the team have only been officially registered as a power unit supplier. But the team could also enter as a works team.
The German automobile giant plans to kickstart its engine development programme as early as 2024. And are in search of drivers who will aid their evolution.
Signed. ✍️ @SchumacherMick meets the Boss. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7kuQXlJdMS
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 15, 2022
Audi CEO Adam Baker confirmed that the team were interested in the services of Mick Schumacher for this role. But by signing the dotted lines with the Silver Arrows, Schumacher has ruled him out of an exciting F1 prospect.
Mick Schumacher is not an option for Audi
One driver long associated to turn to Audi was former Haas driver Mick Schumacher. Mick fits Audi’s checklist and is also German, with a family name that holds great weightage in the country.
Audi too has long flirted with the idea to sign Mick. But the driver moving to Mercedes as their reserve driver has ruled him out of contention, claims Adam Baker.
Baker adds, “Although everyone associates Mick with us, he has chosen to go to Mercedes. We understand his objective was to get back on the Formula 1 grid as quickly as possible.”
Audi’s CEO of Formula Racing Adam Baker says the manufacturer is following a three-year plan to be competitive. That would mean that Audi is targeting wins in 2028.
“It is a realistic goal. We want to compete for wins in the third year.” #F1 pic.twitter.com/NM2G0XuT4C
— Ahmet Cir (@AhmetCirF1) December 31, 2022
Audi is serious about signing a “fast driver” with adequate F1 experience who will aid the development of their Powerunits.
Baker said, “Our debut is far away, but we want a development driver by the end of 2023, It is very important to have someone who has experience developing our new powertrain in the simulators we have in Neuburg.”
But the team have ruled out hiring any current Sauber drivers for now. Audi is also looking to recruit technical personnel. The target is to assemble a 300-person engine department.
Schumacher looks to restart F1 career
Mick Schumacher turned to Mercedes after Haas hired Nico Hulkenberg as his replacement. The Driver also terminated his contract with Ferrari Driver academy with whom he has been associated since 2019.
Mick has been considered to be one of the brightest talents in F1. He made a move to the Haas F1 team after winning the 2020 Formula 2 Championship. But his tenure with Haas hasn’t been an easy ride.
Mick’s failure to consistently score points on weekends and his frequent crashes were a matter of concern. And as a result, the driver found himself out of the team after a tumultuous back-and-forth between the team and the driver.
Mick Schumacher 🤝 @MercedesAMGF1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/SbzLJwkHPn
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 15, 2022
By securing a reserve driver role with Mercedes, the 23-year-old can focus on his development. He will also place second fiddle to the likes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Mercedes team Principal Toto Wolff has asserted that Mick will be key to the team’s 2023 plans. And if the need arises, he will be considered as a substitute for Lewis or George.
Also Read: Toto Wolff thinks Mick Schumacher didn’t ‘deliver’ because he was under pressure
