It really isn’t looking good if you’re a Mick Schumacher fan, with it looking increasingly likely that the young German will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg in 2023.
Whilst Schumacher is out of contract at the end of the season anyway, the 23-year-old has been in contention to retain his seat, something Haas boss Guenther Steiner is in no rush at all to decide.
The vacant seat at the American side, alongside Kevin Magnussen, is actually the final available seat on the grid, after Williams announced that F2 driver Logan Sargeant will be replacing Nicholas Latifi, unless he has arguably the worst F2 season finale humanly possible.
Schumacher has been linked to a seat at Audi in 2026; however, that’s still a reasonable distance away, with the here and now, seemingly the issue for the son of Michael Schumacher.
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It’s been a head-to-head fight between Schumacher and Hulkenberg for the seat over recent weeks, with the Americans seemingly having to decide between youth or experience.
Whilst Hulkenberg hasn’t raced in F1 full-time since 2019, he remains one of the most experienced drivers in the paddock, something which could produce a strong partnership with the equally experienced Magnussen.
Following an announcement made by Hulkenberg’s current side Aston Martin, it looks like the championship will be seeing a return of the 35-year-old.
It was announced on Tuesday that reigning Formula E World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne would be joining the Silverstone-based team as a reserve and test driver, sharing the role with F2 World Champion Felipe Drugovich.
Based on the fact Vandoorne is taking Hulkenberg’s job, it has led to many believing it’s the tell-telling sign that he is going to be partnering Magnussen at Haas in 2023.
Hulkenberg admitted himself that he is “relatively optimistic”, but added he needs to remain “patient”.
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“At the end of the day, it’s not my decision. I’m not making it,” said Hulkenberg to Austrian broadcaster ServusTV.
“There are still talks. I am relatively optimistic, but we will have to be patient a little longer.”
What this will mean for Schumacher is unknown, as no seats will be available on the grid until 2024, meaning that Ferrari will likely need to find the German a seat in another championship for next season, unless he leaves the Ferrari Driver Academy.