Former F1 CEO voices support for Mick Schumacher after Audi rejection

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his support for Mick Schumacher, the former Haas driver now competing with Alpine’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) team. Since his F1 exit at the end of 2022, Schumacher has faced challenges in securing a seat with any team on the grid, despite his undeniable talent and potential. Lately, the German driver was linked to a move to Sauber/Audi but it has now been confirmed that he won’t be racing for the Hinwil outfit. 

Schumacher currently finds himself in a position where junior drivers are securing contracts with F1 teams such as Mercedes, Haas, and Alpine for the 2025 season and beyond, indicating that he may not be the favored choice among teams on the grid.

Despite the rejections, the 25-year-old driver did not lose hope, suggesting his “Plan A” remained to secure a seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber for 2025, as the team transitions to become the Audi Works outfit by 2026 in the new era of regulations. However, he faced competition from an experienced driver like Valtteri Bottas, who races for the same team. Speaking to Sky Deutschland about an imminent Audi announcement in September, Schumacher said:

“There will be a decision in September. So we have to wait and see what happens.

“I will deal with it when the time comes and Plan A does not work.”

However, he remains uncertain about a Plan B. He added:

“Plan B must be in the back of my mind.

“I don’t know where that will go at the moment.

“Formula 1 is the big goal, it always was and it always will be. That’s why everything else has to stand still for now.

“The options that exist alongside it have to wait.”

Unfortunately for Schumacher, BILD published that Audi’s newly appointed CEO and CTO for its F1 project, Mattia Binotto, has ruled him out for the 2025 seat. The report stated that “the German can no longer have any hope of this. The racing team bosses around Mattia Binotto (54) have finally decided against Schumi Jr.”

Ecclestone understands the situation, especially Audi’s current preference for a top driver. Speaking in an interview with Sport.de, he explained:

“You can understand Audi’s position. When they enter, they need their number one driver and a number two. They will need a lot of help to protect their brand. They can’t just sit around and do nothing.”

When he was asked if Bottas would be the right fit at Audi, he said:

“Only time will tell.”

In addition to WEC, Schumacher is also the reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 team. Ecclestone believes that after Schumacher’s challenging stint with Haas under the leadership of Guenther Steiner, he does not need “advice, but support.” He suggested that Schumacher needs a team principal “who is a warm-hearted person,” listing Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore and McLaren CEO Zak Brown as examples. He added:

“He is talented enough, but has not been given the right opportunity so far.”