Former F2 champion says he has a ‘pretty good’ chance of F1 return in 2025

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Every team on the F1 grid has now filled at least one of its 2025 seats. But Mercedes still haven’t announced who will be replacing Lewis Hamilton, which may hold up further activity.

Academy driver Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari star Carlos Sainz are going head-to-head for the drive, though Toto Wolff may still be dreaming of signing Max Verstappen. Sainz’s other suitors, like Alpine, Williams and Audi, still haven’t officially moved on from the Spaniard.

Alpine need to find a teammate for Pierre Gasly, with Esteban Ocon on his way out at the end of the season. Ocon is in line to partner Oliver Bearman at Haas.

Valtteri Bottas is the favourite for the second Williams seat next to Alex Albon as Logan Sargeant considers a move to IndyCar. All of this could leave Sauber short of options ahead of Audi’s 2026 arrival.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty around Sergio Perez has complicated the picture at RB. The Red Bull junior team are waiting to see whether Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda or even Daniel Ricciardo receive a call-up.

This could bring academy drivers like Isack Hadjar or Ayumu Iwasa into contention. Bearman is the only rookie on the 2025 grid as it stands, but that could soon change.

Mick Schumacher says F1 is ‘within reach’ for 2025

In the midst of all this, Mick Schumacher is optimistic of making an F1 comeback. Schumacher made his debut with Haas in 2021 off the back of winning the F2 title.

While he outperformed fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin in 2021, he struggled up against the veteran Kevin Magnussen the following year. That saw him lose his spot to Nico Hulkenberg.

Since then, Schumacher has carried out a reserve role for Mercedes, in addition to competing in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine. He’s building the relationships he needs to get back on the grid.

Indeed, Wolff says Schumacher was ‘super’ in a recent Alpine test as he tries to earn the Ocon replacement gig. And speaking to AFP (via sport.de) at the Six Hours of Sao Paulo last weekend, the 25-year-old sounded hopeful.

“My chances in Formula 1 seem to be pretty good so far,” he said. “For me it is important to return to Formula 1 to show what I can do.

“At the moment, Formula 1 is within reach. I have to make sure that I don’t become too confident, that I keep going and make sure that there is a plan B in case it doesn’t work out.

“My plan was always Formula 1, now we have to wait and see what opportunities present themselves to me. I have decided that I will wait for Formula 1 as long as necessary.”

Kimi Antonelli could now rival Schumacher for Alpine seat

If Sainz lands at Mercedes, then Schumacher could go up against two young drivers for the right to be Gasly’s teammate. One of those is Jack Doohan, the team’s current reserve who’s driven in two FP1 sessions already this year.

But amid talks with Mercedes over an engine supply deal, Kimi Antonelli is also a contender for an Alpine seat. Significantly, Schumacher has already shared the track with the Italian in test sessions for the Silver Arrows.

One Chinese manufacturer is trying to secure a seat for Zhou Guanyu, tapping into its existing relationship with Renault. But their prospective Mercedes ties could hold greater influence.

Former FIA president Jean Todt believes Schumacher is ‘better than half’ the current field. The team’s new advisor Flavio Briatore achieved success with his father Michael in the 1990s, and that connection could work to his advantage.