12-point driver out of options for 2025 after unsuccessfully offering himself to Audi

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Audi will be receiving plenty of phone calls from the drivers who are still on the F1 market. Virtually all of the other options are closed off at this point.

On paper, five teams still have a seat open. That list includes Mercedes, but Toto Wolff is poised to hire Kimi Antonelli as his Lewis Hamilton replacement, with plan-b Carlos Sainz confirmed at Williams.

Elsewhere, the uncertainty around Sergio Perez has filtered down to RB. Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson are waiting to see whether they fit into the 2025 picture, as are young drivers like Isack Hadjar.

And Alpine still haven’t officially unveiled their replacement for Pierre Gasly. But Martin Brundle says Jack Doohan is in pole position to get that seat, having impressed in his reserve role.

Audi missed out on Sainz and a number of other desirable drivers who were out of contract. They have carried limited appeal up to this point given the struggles of the scoreless Sauber team.

Nico Hulkenberg is already in place and given that he’s a veteran of 217 Grands Prix, the team may feel they can sign a less experienced driver alongside him. Mattia Binotto is showing interest in Gabriel Bortoleto, the teenager who’s currently second in the F2 standings.

Mick Schumacher application to Audi has had ‘negative’ outcome

Alpine looked like Mick Schumacher’s best bet of returning to the F1 grid. The German scored 12 points during his two-year stint at Haas in 2021 and 2022 and has been pushing hard to secure a comeback.

Having been impressed by his performances for the brand in the World Endurance Championship, Bruno Famin was open to the idea of signing Schumacher. But Famin has now stepped away from his team principal role, giving way to Oliver Oakes.

With Oakes set to welcome Doohan to Enstone soon after his arrival, Schumacher turned his attention to Audi. According to Formu1a.uno, he ‘proposed himself’ to the team, but the outcome ‘would appear to be negative’.

The 25-year-old may have been optimistic. He could pitch the idea of an all-German line-up for the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer, and newly-installed Audi chief Binotto was in charge at Ferrari while Schumacher was part of the driver academy.

What Toto Wolff heard about Mick Schumacher Alpine test

Schumacher possibly failed to meet Binotto’s expectations during his time at Haas. In the eyes of the Italian, and many of his Formula 1 colleagues, he may have had his chance.

Audi could retain Valtteri Bottas, who’s outperformed Zhou Guanyu this season, or make an offer to Ricciardo if he loses his RB seat. And should they go down the youth route instead, Bortoleto’s stock is arguably higher than that of Schumacher right now.

Having taken him on in a reserve role in 2023, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had ‘super’ feedback on Schumacher’s test for Alpine. He was involved in a de facto shoot-out with Doohan in 2022 machinery.

As the immediate backup to Gasly and Esteban Ocon, Doohan was naturally at the front of the queue. And that sums up Schumacher’s issue – in contention for multiple drives, but never the favoured candidate.