Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has claimed Mercedes’ Toto Wolff should bear the same questions over the choice not to grant Mick Schumacher a 2025 Formula 1 drive.
The announcement earlier this week that Gabriel Bortoleto will race with Sauber next season has all but ended Schumacher’s small chance of returning to the F1 grid.
Schumacher has been eager to receive a second chance in the series since Haas elected to drop him once his crash-strewn sophomore campaign concluded in 2022.
But although Binotto revealed that he was among the Audi-owned team’s candidates to partner Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber has chosen Bortoleto to complete its line-up.
The Swiss-Italian engineer, who worked with Schumacher during his time at Ferrari, has insisted the German remained on Sauber’s list up until it decided on Bortoleto.
Asked whether Schumacher was someone that he contemplated, Binotto replied: “Yeah. We had several talks, he was certainly a strong candidate.
“I know him very well from the past and I know his strengths and maybe his weaknesses as well, but certainly I think he would have been a good choice.
“I think there have been many candidates and Mick would have been certainly a good choice as well.
“Now sometimes you need to come to a decision. I think there is no reason why or blames for me, the reason simply goes we decided for Gabriel and that’s it.”
Binotto questions Mercedes
Binotto has argued that he should not be alone in being quizzed about his decision to overlook Schumacher as he pointed out Mercedes also elected to do the same.
Schumacher, a Mercedes reserve driver since last term, wasn’t considered when the team selected Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
“I think that maybe we should ask the same of Toto: why Kimi and not Mick?” Binotto continued.
“I think at some time you need to come to a decision and you make to make a decision. So today, we made the decision to employ and to hire Gabriel and we are happy.”
Schumacher’s F1 hopes ‘unrealistic’
Schumacher’s uncle, Ralf, has expressed that his nephew landing an F1 reprieve has to be deemed as “unrealistic” unless an unexpected situation arises next season.
“Formula 1 is a crazy business,” the ex-F1 driver told Sky Deutschland.
“The question is, who will be the substitute driver where? Or will he now concentrate on his long-distance career?
“Unfortunately, Formula 1 is rather unrealistic for Mick, unless someone drops out due to illness.”
READ MORE – Who is Sauber 2025 F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto?
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