Sauber will have Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025: This also closes the last door for Mick Schaumacher – team principal Mattia Binotto says
This means that the last cockpit in Formula 1 for the 2025 season has also been taken: with the announcement of Gabriel Bortoleto’s signing, Mick Schumacher’s last shred of hope of a place in the premier class has been extinguished. The German was definitely on the list of candidates for the future Audi works team, as Mattia Binotto reveals in the course of the Bortoletto signing:
“Yes, we had many conversations. He was definitely a strong candidate,” says the Italian about Schumacher: ‘I know him very well from the past, and I know his strengths and perhaps also weaknesses,’ explains Binotto, who worked with the German at Ferrari when Schumacher was part of the junior academy there.
The Sauber team principal has words of praise for Schumacher: “I think he would definitely have been a good choice too. But for the Italian, one thing is certain: ‘Sometimes you have to make a decision, but as I said, I think there is no why or blame – for me, the reason is simply more on Gabri’s side, and that’s it.’
Binotto passes Schumacher question on to Wolff
However, Binotto also asks afterwards: “Maybe we should ask Toto the same [question]. Why Kimi and not Mick?” Schumacher was employed by Mercedes as a reserve driver for the last two years, but for the vacant cockpit of record world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari in 2025, the Silver Arrows preferred to nominate the 18-year-old super talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will drive alongside George Russell at Mercedes next season.
Regarding Audi’s choice, Binotto explains: “I think sometimes you have to make a decision. We just made the decision today to sign and employ Gabriel, and we are happy with our [decision].
So instead of having two German drivers, we will have a German-Brazilian driver pairing in the future Audi factory team. However, rookie Bortoleto and veteran Hülkenberg have not yet discussed their adventure together, as the Brazilian himself revealed on Wednesday: “I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will get in touch with him very soon.”
Bortoleto knows: “He was in the middle of a triple header, so we couldn’t talk at the moment. But after this announcement, I think we’ll organize a call, won’t we, Mattia?” The Brazilian grins in the direction of his team boss and is looking forward to it: “Then we’ll set it up and I’ll finally get to meet him.”
