Mick Schumacher has been warned by ex-Formula 1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck that he’s in an “extremely dangerous situation”, with the German’s F1 career at a perilous risk of ending prematurely.
It seems crazy to think that Schumacher might not be on the 2023 grid, despite having overperformed in 2021 and having improved considerably in the second half of this season.
The Haas driver reportedly has a “50/50 chance” of being retained by the Americans for next season; however, should he not be retained then it looks like it’s the end of the road of the 23-year-old’s F1 career, for now at least.
The only other option appears to be Williams, but that is solely dependent on F2 driver Logan Sargeant not finishing in the top six of the Drivers’ Championship.
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Sargeant is a Williams Academy driver and is the favourite to take the place of Nicholas Latifi next season dependant on the number of superlicence points he has.
To get enough points to compete in F1 next season, the American needs to seal a top six spot in the championship, something that looks probable given he’s currently third.
Williams team principal Jost Capito is confident that Sargeant is “ready” for F1 and is “confident” he’ll achieve the result he needs for the points.
“I think he’s ready,” Williams boss Jost Capito told RTL.
“Yes, he needs a few points which of course doesn’t help, but I’m confident he’s ready whether he gets the points or not.”
With three races in the United States next season, having an American driver would, of course, be massively beneficial to the British side.
Considering Sargeant would be the only American on the grid, you’d like to think that the merchandise sales alone would be in their hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
Capitio is insistent that they want to promote Sargeant for his ability, though, not as a marketing tactic.
“We would not take him for that,” Capito insists.
“Either we think he is ready and able, or not.”
Should the American driver have a nightmare at the F2 season finale and fail to finish in the top six, then this could open the door to Schumacher.
Stuck is shocked that nobody has signed the young German yet and is certain that he is Haas’ “best option”.
“I just don’t understand why nobody has secured him yet,” the 71-year-old told Eurosport.
“(Gunther) Steiner isn’t going to get a driver like Lewis Hamilton. Mick is the best option,” he insisted.
If Schumacher does find himself on the side-lines next season, then there might be the option that he can return in 2024 due to a number of contracts being set to expire at the end of 2023.
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Given that there are rumours that Schumacher might lose his Ferrari Driver Academy backing, Stuck is concerned that if he is left without a seat next season then it will most likely be the end of the Haas driver’s F1 career.
“Once you’re out of Formula 1 and you can no longer prove yourself, you’re gone faster than you can believe it,” Stuck said.
“It’s an extremely dangerous situation for Mick.”