With Logan Sargeant being confirmed to take the vacant seat at Williams next season, subject to securing enough Super Licence points in the F2 finale, all the spotlights now shine on Mick Schumacher’s seat at Haas.
The young German picked up damage at the Circuit of the Americas, resulting in him finishing outside the points, while teammate Kevin Magnussen took the checkered flag in P9.
Gene Haas has made it clear to Schumacher that he needs to score points if he wants to race for the team next year, however, Schumacher believes that it was external factors that stopped this happening this weekend.
“I think we were on for good points today for sure,” he said.
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“Everyone out there saw that we were on course for points, so it’s extremely annoying we couldn’t get them, but the pace is there,” he told Sky Germany.
German journalist Ralf Bach believes that Schumacher needs to fight hard for a 2023 seat, with 2026 newcomers Audi reportedly sniffing around the German.
“For Mick, I think it’s all about surviving 2023, because the way I see it, his future lies with Audi,” he said.
“They want him and there have already been talks.
“I know for sure that there are talks.”
Schumacher signed for Haas in 2021, with his nationality being a major factor, attracting some major German sponsors for the American team at a time in which the financial situation was looking bleak.
It is thought the Audi might make a similar decision when they have to pick their driver line up for 2026, with the German team seeing a German driver as an attractive option for their debut season.
“To be honest, a German driver would be interesting for us,” said Audi F1 project leader Adam Baker.
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“But the final decision will be made based on performance, not nationality.”
Schumacher was visibly upset following the United States Grand Prix, with it looking like he would get the points he so desperately craves, before he took damage which he believes affected the car’s performance.
The 23-year-old now has Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi races to save his seat for next year, with Nico Hulkenberg emerging as the hot favourite to replace him, should Haas decide to make a chance.