Audi Potentially Choosing Bottas Over Schumacher 'Incomprehensible' For Marko

Friday, 04 October 2024 at 18:30

Helmut Marko asserted that Audi has an ideal opportunity to give young drivers like Mick Schumacher a chance instead of signing Valtteri Bottas.

As it stands, only two empty seats remain on the F1 grid for the 2025 season—one in VCARB / RB and one in Sauber (future Audi).

As it stands, it is almost certain that the seat in VCARB will belong to one of Red Bull's juniors. However, Sauber / Audi has not yet decided which driver to sign alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, highlighted that the current setting is ideal for the Swiss-based F1 team to give a chance to a rookie driver like Mick Schumacher.

"I think the Audi car will certainly not be a winning car next year. That means there would have been no pressure on either Audi or the driver."

"It would be a good comparison with Nico Hülkenberg. If his [Schumacher's] performance isn't right, you can always make a change until 2026."

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The problem is that the 25-year-old German doesn't seem to be on top of Audi's list of potential 2025 F1 drivers. The three biggest candidates at the moment are Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, and Valtteri Bottas. Marko continued:

"I don't know exactly, but if the situation is really that Valtteri Bottas gets the chance, then the whole thing is even more incomprehensible to me."

The 81-year-old added that the seat in Sauber for 2025 seems to be Schumacher's last chance in Formula 1, suggesting that if he doesn't get it, he should focus on something else, like the WEC (World Endurance Championship). Marko added:

"I think if Schumacher doesn't get this seat, then Formula 1 history is over for him. Then he should concentrate on the long-distance races, where he was very successful, and do that."