AlphaTauri wanted Mick Schumacher to replace Pierre Gasly, reveals Franz Tost
Mick Schumacher could have had a spot on the Formula 1 grid after all this season, with AlphaTauri interested in including the former Haas driver.
Schumacher left American side Haas at the end of the 2022 season after his contract was not renewed following a string of disappointing results, scoring points just twice during the season.
He was replaced by Nico Hulkenberg for 2023, with the German partnered by former rival Kevin Magnussen, with the former picking up six points and the latter just two for Haas.
Schumacher was eventually snapped up by Mercedes as backup to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, but Franz Tost has admitted he was keen to bring the 24-year-old to his AlphaTauri line-up.
Tost also suggested that Schumacher – son of the great and seven-time world champion Michael – is much more capable on the track than he has shown in Formula 1 before.
Franz Tost reveals he was keen to hire Mick Schumacher at AlphaTauri after Pierre Gasly
Schumacher was eventually hired as Mercedes’ backup after being released by Haas
Instead, AlphaTauri went with Nyck de Vries, who struggled to make the step up this year
“Initially it was clear to me that our driver line-up would be Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda,” said Tost. Formel1.de.
‘Then suddenly Pierre was assigned to Alpine and a place became available for us. Until Monza it was completely uncertain who our driver would be. And of course I thought of Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher has not managed to get a cockpit this year. For us it was then open after the Pierre Gasly situation came to light. He is significantly better than he is currently perceived in the outside world.
However, it was rejected. We now have Nyck de Vries and there is really nothing more to discuss.’
With Pierre Gasly on his way to Alpine to join Esteban Ocon in an all-French line-up for the country’s best-known manufacturer, AlphaTauri eventually attracted rookie driver Nyck de Vries.
Schumacher scored just two points over the course of the 2022 season before leaving Haas
De Vries came into Formula 1 with great promise, having won the Formula E championship two seasons earlier and finished ninth the following year, but has struggled to make the move to AlphaTauri.
In seven races so far for the 2023 season, the Dutchman has only finished five times.
He is also yet to score a point, with his highest finish of 12th, achieved in Monaco two weeks ago, although he did manage ninth for Williams at the 2022 Italian GP to take two points.