Williams may be able to offer Mick Schumacher a Formula 1 lifeline if he is replaced at Haas for the 2023 season.
The German currently holds a seat with the American team, but that may not remain the case for too much longer. Haas are considering their options going forward, and could opt for the more experienced Nico Hulkenberg to help them to progress next year.
As his seat is the last to be decided for 2023, Schumacher will most likely drop off the grid if Haas do decide to bring in a new face. But there is still a chance of a lifeline from Williams, who have chosen their preferred option to Nicholas Latifi.
But that doesn't mean it is fully decided. Logan Sargeant is the man they want to make his F1 debut with them next year, but the American does not yet have a superlicence and so he must secure a top six spot in the F2 standings in the Abu Dhabi season finale.
If he cannot achieve that, then Williams will have to rethink their plans. And, asked explicitly about Schumacher, team principal Jost Capito did not rule the German out as an option if they need an alternative.
"If it doesn’t work out with the superlicense [for Sargeant], everyone who has experience and a superlicense is an option," he told Motorsport Magazin. "We have dealt with all those who come into question. But it hasn't yet been decided whether Mick will stay at Haas or not. It would not have been possible to do that yet."
Despite admitting to considering other options, Capito also made it clear that Sargeant firmly remains their top choice as he explained why the American was selected to be team-mate to Alex Albon in 2023. "First and foremost his development," said the team boss..
"If you compare his qualifying results in particular with those of his team-mates, he was always better in qualifying – even against [Oscar] Piastri. That shows that his speed is there. Making a fast driver reliable is possible, but to make a reliable driver who is slow and make them fast, that's not possible. Just like with the car, it's exactly the same.
"He has to learn. He made the breakthrough, he was really good as a rookie in Formula 2, won races and was always good in qualifying. When he's with us in the academy, he also has to get to Formula 1 quickly and show what he can do and learn there."
