Mick Schumacher's Formula 1 career is likely "over," according to German pundit and former F1 driver Christian Danner, following Audi-Sauber's choice to fill the final 2025 seat with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, aged 20.
Even Schumacher's uncle, Ralf, acknowledges that returning to the F1 grid is "unrealistic" given the 25-year-old's lack of a full-time seat since his departure from Haas.
Danner suggests that Schumacher might not even be retained by Mercedes as a reserve driver, with rumors pointing to Valtteri Bottas potentially taking on that role next year.
"He (Mick) should think carefully about whether he even wants that," Danner said. "That would mean he's the replacement driver for an 18-year-old!"
Though Schumacher has been Mercedes' third driver since 2022, team boss Toto Wolff admitted he only needed "five seconds" to decide on teenager Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for 2025.
"It seems that no one is really interested in him," Danner noted, pointing to the lack of investment from Mercedes in test days for Schumacher.
"His Formula 1 career is over. He hasn't been a regular driver for three years in a row, which is far too long," Danner explained. "Mick has to accept that and step out of his idea where there is only this one main racing series. He has to think outside the box and see what alternatives he has. There are many great opportunities out there, like Indycar."
Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion who once competed against Mick's father, Michael Schumacher, agrees with Danner's assessment.
"He has always shown flashes of potential, but not consistently enough," Hill remarked. "Mick is a solid driver, but unfortunately not one who wins victories or titles. If he wants to have another chance in Formula 1, he has to go away and come back as a different driver. It has to click and he has to understand that he cannot make any compromises for his success."
