Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has admitted that Mick Schumacher was a “sturdy candidate” for a seat at Kick Sauber in 2025, with the crew having held talks with the German driver earlier than in the end deciding on rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
Whereas Nico Hulkenberg was confirmed again in April as one half of the squad’s line-up for subsequent yr – forward of their transition into being Audi’s works outfit in 2026 – months of hypothesis adopted over who would associate the veteran racer.
ANALYSIS: Why Sauber selected to go along with Bortoleto and youth relatively than Bottas and expertise
As time glided by, the principle candidates gave the impression to be the incumbent Valtteri Bottas and F2 championship chief Bortoleto – and it was confirmed this week that the crew had signed Bortoleto, making him considered one of plenty of younger drivers set to make their debut in 2025.
Nonetheless, Sauber thought of different choices through the course of of selecting their driver and this included discussions with Schumacher, who has acted as a Mercedes reserve driver since his two-year stint racing for Haas got here to an finish after the 2022 marketing campaign.
