Michael Schumacher’s son Mick’s Formula One career ‘looks to be OVER’ at 25, as team make ‘incomprehensible’ decision to pick struggling veteran ahead of him
- It could be that the son of the legendary Formula 1 driver will leave the sport
- Mick Schumacher hoped to get a permanent place in a team next season
- The 25-year-old currently serves as a reserve driver for the Mercedes AMG team
Michael Schumacher’s son Mick could face an embarrassing end to his Formula 1 career after being denied a seat for next season, according to reports.
The 25-year-old has tried to follow in his father’s legendary racing footsteps after coming through the junior academy before joining the Ferrari driver academy in 2019.
However, despite success in the F2 and F3 formats, Schumacher struggled as he moved up to the senior professional ranks at Haas, where he raced for two seasons, finishing 19th and 16th before being let go.
The emerging talent was part of the AMG Mercedes team this season as a reserve driver and was tipped for a permanent spot with the new Audi team next year, but that now seems to be off the table, reports say. BIL.
Off the track, Schumacher is part of a close-knit family network that has kept father Michael’s personal life private since he suffered a horror skiing accident with Mick 11 years ago.
Michael Schumacher’s son Mick (pictured) could face a painful end to his Formula 1 career
Mick – pictured with mother Corinna (left) and father Michael (right) – grew up in the racing world
Off the court, Mick is in a serious relationship with his model girlfriend Laila Hasanovic
Schumacher raced for Haas for two seasons before being released from his seat
The F1 legend won a record seven championship titles during an illustrious career in one of the world’s most dangerous sports, but has been receiving 24-hour care since his accident.
It is believed Schumacher Snr recently broke cover to attend his daughter’s wedding, which was held at the family’s £27 million mansion in Mallorca, which Mick also attended.
Despite having so much to do away from the track, Mick hoped to return to a major F1 birth with Audi next year in their debut season in the sport, only for new boss Mattia Binotto to prefer recruiting veteran Valterri Bottas.
Bottas – who previously helped Lewis Hamilton to several world titles at Mercedes – is wanted by Audi to partner Nico Hulkenberg, despite failing to gain a single point with Sauber and sitting at the bottom of the current F1 standings.
Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko has been outspoken on the matter and believes Schumacher would be the better choice. He states: ‘I think that the Audi car will certainly not be a winning car next year. There would have been no pressure for Audi or for the driver. A good comparison could be made with Nico Hulkenberg.
‘If it is really the case that Valtteri Bottas gets the chance, then the whole thing is even more incomprehensible to me.
Mick could leave racing if he does not get a permanent place with a team next season
Valtteri Bottas (left) has been tipped to get a seat at Audi next season, ahead of Mick (right)
Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko (pictured) thinks Mick’s career could be over if he doesn’t get a seat next year
Schumacher is currently working as a reserve driver for the Mercedes AMG team this season
“I think if Schumacher doesn’t get this seat, the Formula 1 story is over for him.”
If he decides to turn his back on the sport, Mick will be buoyed by the blossoming romance he shared with model Laila Hasanovic, who is believed to be one of the few people outside the family to have been given access to stricken Michael.
Mick, 25, and Bosnian-born Laila have been together for 18 months, and according to German newspaper Bild, she is the only one of his girlfriends Michael has ever been allowed to visit.
Bild says the family are ‘in love’ with the model, who is regularly included in their family plans and was photographed with Michael’s wife Corinna at the FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar in March.