Mick Schumacher has faded into oblivion in F1, with little hope for his return to the grid. Two years since his exit from Haas, the German driver is still searching for a team to grant him an opportunity for redemption. There was some hope of Sauber picking him up, but they instead placed their bets on the talented Gabriel Bortoleto.
With the door shut on his last prospect for 2025, Schumacher has reflected on these setbacks in his racing career via his Instagram. The 25-year-old has posted a message on his story to indicate that he is taking these rejections from F1 in his stride and wants to keep striving to make a name for himself in motorsport.
“Life doesn’t always go as planned, and setbacks can be tough to face. But every challenge is a chance to learn, grow, and come back even stronger. This is just a chapter, not the whole story. The journey continues, and I’m determined to rise above it. Thank you all for your support, it means the world”, Schumacher said.
I think Mick’s acknowledging that his hope for an f1 return is no longer viable Anymore was his last hope in some sense and now Bortoleto is in the seat
— Best of Mick Schumacher (@schumacherfiles) November 17, 2024
The former Haas driver has been in and out of contention for the Sauber seat, owing to the indecisiveness of the team regarding its options. Still, Schumacher never emerged as a strong contender, perhaps due to his bad record in the sport with multiple crashes and not delivering on his potential.
Sauber signed Nico Hulkenberg as the German driver around whom they want to build their team, with an Audi takeover looming. Therefore, signing Bortoleto over Schumacher appears to have been a merit-based decision by the Swiss team. Bortoleto has showcased his dynamic speed and racecraft in F2 this season and currently leads the standings.
Schumacher, on the other hand, has been driving for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship with little success. His association with Alpine could have been an opening for a seat on their F1 team. But even that door closed on him.
The French team signed up another recent F2 graduate, Jack Doohan. The Aussie had reportedly outperformed Schumacher in a private test driving the team’s 2022 car.
Probably no new contract with Alpine.
— MisterPupswindel (@MPupswindel) November 17, 2024
As things stand, the 2020 F2 champion appears set to remain on the sidelines for another season in F1. His statement on Instagram has garnered sympathy from the community, but Schumacher may have to fight an uphill battle to revive his F1 career from the outside.
