Mick Schumacher may still be in the paddock during the 2023 Formula 1 season despite being let go by Haas.
This week it was announced that the German would not have his contract extended after two years with the team. Instead, they have given his seat to the more experienced Nico Hulkenberg in the hope he can help push them to greater heights next season.
Without a race seat, Schumacher is now hunting for the best role he can find for 2023 which will give him an opportunity to return to the grid in the future. And he may find it in the Mercedes garage.
Toto Wolff has been speaking positively about the prospect of bringing the 23-year-old to the team which was once represented by his seven-time world champion father. "Mick is someone that has always been close to our heart, because of Michael, and the whole Schumacher family – Ralf was in the DTM for a long time with us, his son [David] races Mercedes in GTs," said the Austrian.
"And [Mick] is an intelligent, well-mannered young man. He's been very successful in junior formulas, we believe that we can look after him if the situation were to happen, with someone that just fits the team.
"But we haven't really put pen to paper. We haven't really come anywhere close to terms. I'm saying it that openly because I think he just fits and now we need to make it happen, if he wants to, if Sabine [Kehm, his manager] wants to, then we'll see where it goes."
One potential stumbling block to a move to Mercedes might be that Schumacher remains a member of the Ferrari academy. But team boss Mattia Binotto declared he would not stand in the young German's way if he chose to join the Silver Arrows.
"Mick, as first, is a great driver, I think he has always progressed through his career," said the Italian. "I think he's also progressed through the current season, if you look back at how he started and where he's ending, he's shown that he's capable of progressing.
"We as Ferrari and the Ferrari Driver Academy believe he's a great driver. After Haas has decided for a different choice for a next season, we will need to sit down with Mick really to decide what's the best for his future.
"I think the decision is really what’s the best for him. We don't have any seat for him right now, and I think what's most important, when you are so young in your career, is to make sure you get whatever the best opportunity is for you. We will be fully open to different choices, but something we obviously will need to sit down with him and to conclude."
