F1 Rumour: Mick Schumacher Rejected By Williams For 2024 Seat
Mick Schumacher's aspirations for a 2024 seat at Williams have been thwarted, according to recent reports. Despite significant backing and an impressive track record, the promising driver has apparently not been selected for the upcoming season.
Key Takeaways:
- While Mick Schumacher was eyed as a potential replacement for struggling Williams driver Logan Sargeant, Williams seems to have other plans.
- Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff heavily promoted Schumacher to Williams' new team boss James Vowles, even sharing simulator data.
- Following a promising trial, Brazilian Aston Martin test driver Felipe Drugovich emerges as a front-runner for Sargeant's seat, potentially aided by a substantial sponsorship.
Listen To The Latest Driven Mad Podcast Episode
Mick Schumacher has been with the Mercedes team this year as a reserve driver after losing his seat with Haas at the end of 2022, but he has been keen to make a return to a full-time seat since. However, his quest for a Williams seat has met with an unexpected turn.
The backdrop to this story is US driver Logan Sargeant's underwhelming performance in recent times. His inconsistency, punctuated by frequent track departures and a notable accident in Singapore, has cast doubt over his future with the British outfit.
Ralf Schumacher, the Sky pundit and Mick's uncle, remarked to F1 Insider:
“Sargeant seems overwhelmed. One can see that. In the long term, Williams, which is on the upswing, cannot afford a second driver who has accidents but no points.”
Amidst the speculation, Schumacher was frequently cited as the prime candidate to replace Sargeant. Following his departure from Haas at the end of 2022, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff championed Mick, even positioning him as a substitute and development driver. Wolff approached Williams' new team boss James Vowles with compelling data from Schumacher's Mercedes simulator sessions. Yet, Vowles was not convinced.
Instead, eyes have now turned to Felipe Drugovich. The Brazilian, a standout in last year's Formula 2 championship, demonstrated prowess during test drives, notably when substituting Lance Stroll in Monza. Drugovich's candidacy is further bolstered by a reported sponsorship sum of 15 million euros. The final verdict on Sargeant's Williams future will likely come after the American Grand Prix in Austin.
