Haas driver Mick Schumacher’s name has been thrown in the hat regarding who Aston Martin might decide to sign should Sebastian Vettel leave at the end of the year.
Vettel has finished in the points only once in 2022 with a hugely disappointing AMR22 that has encountered a litany of complications, and it will be doing little to convince him to extend his contract which expires at the end of this year.
A report from Motorsport.com previously speculated that he is ready to walk away at the end of the year, leaving a vacant seat alongside Lance Stroll.
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Fernando Alonso is also out of contract at Alpine when this season comes to a close, and Renault CEO Luca de Meo did not rule out the Spaniard’s departure despite his continued impressive performances.
“We love Fernando very much,” he said.
“We are going to have to find a solution for everyone, because we also have Esteban and Oscar, who are very good. We want to protect our drivers and seek an ideal solution for everyone.
“I think the work that Fernando has done and is doing is incredible.”
Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri is waiting in the wings for his shot at the pinnacle of motorsport, and his chance may arrive with Williams if they decide to drop Nicholas Latifi at the end of this season.
De Meo did not specify where the Australian reserve driver’s chance may open up, but he conceded that the outcome will not be entirely satisfactory for all of Piastri, Alonso and Esteban Ocon – Alonso’s team-mate.
“We combined the experience of Alonso with the youth of Ocon and now Piastri enters. It is a challenge to find a position for the three of them,” added the Italian.
“The solution will not be 100 percent pleasant for all three of them, but we believe that we have to give each one of them an opportunity.”
It may well make sense for Schumacher to head to the Silverstone-based side if they do not swoop in for Alonso, as the Aston Martin brand is said to be trying to establish more connections in Germany.
Furthermore, if the proposed Audi takeover goes through, the German company would almost certainly be searching for a German driver to join the team.
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The 23-year-old would be perfect for that in the eyes of six-time Formula 1 race winner and uncle of Schumacher, Ralf.
“It’s still the case that a driver at that young age with two years of F1 experience already has value in Formula 1,” he explained.
“I don’t think it’s just Aston Martin who are interested in him.
“You shouldn’t forget the German component Audi will be there. Lawrence Stroll could have the plan to make the package even more attractive for Audi, because Audi definitely want a German driver.”
However, Haas have a contract with Ferrari mandating that they have a Ferrari junior in their team in return for engine supply.
They would therefore be looking towards Callum Ilott or Robert Shartzman, who has both won races in Formula 2, and securing their signature would facilitate Schumacher’s move to Aston Martin if it materialises.