Williams have reportedly rejected the chance to have Mick Schumacher in their car next season, instead of current driver Logan Sargeant.
It’s been reported by F1-Insider.com that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff offered Williams boss James Vowles the chance to take Schumacher, only for Vowles to reject the opportunity after seeing the German’s simulator data.
If true, then that’s Schumacher’s chances of returning to the grid next season over, given that Sargeant’s seat is the only one which remains vacant for 2024.
Williams are supposedly keen on giving Sargeant another season to prove himself; however, Aston Martin reserve and reigning Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich is believed to be an option.
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Schumacher’s best bet at returning to the grid appears to be with Audi in 2026, when the German manufacturer complete their 75% takeover of Sauber’s F1 team.
For next season, Wolff is hopeful of keeping the ex-Haas driver as their reserve, with him having received considerable praise from Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell this year.
Whether Schumacher will decide to stick with the Silver Arrows next season is currently unknown, as it looks like he’s set to return to racing elsewhere.
Schumacher has been in talks with Alpine about joining their Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship, something which would see the son of Michael Schumacher compete in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It’s unknown if Alpine would be happy for Schumacher to race for them whilst also continue as Mercedes’ reserve, although the fact it’s in different championships should go in his favour.
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His chances at Mercedes have been very limited this season, with him having only driven the W14 once.
He drove the W14 in a Pirelli tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after the Spanish Grand Prix earlier in the year, in what was his first time back in an F1 car since leaving Haas at the end of 2022.
For the time being, it does appear that Schumacher’s F1 career is over, something which was feared when Haas opted to sign Nico Hulkenberg rather than retain the young German.