Mattia Binotto confirms Audi F1 COO has ‘met and spoke to’ zero-win driver over 2025 Sauber seat

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Mattia Binotto has confirmed the Audi Formula 1 chief operating officer has met and ‘spoke to’ a driver without a Grand Prix win about joining Sauber in the 2025 season.

The Hinwil, Switzerland squad control one of the two final seats still available for next year’s grid. Only Red Bull also have the say on who occupies one of the 20 drives in Formula 1 with Visa Cash App RB still to confirm who will partner Yuki Tsunoda for the Faenza outfit in 2025.

Liam Lawson is in a shoot-out beside Tsunoda which could lead to a seat at Red Bull or at RB for next term in the last six rounds of 2024. But a lot of focus remains at Sauber, whom Audi makes a works team in 2026 and where Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are out of contract.

Audi F1 COO Mattia Binotto confirms talks with Mick Schumacher on Sauber’s 2025 seat

If either of the current Sauber drivers remain in Hinwil, Audi is most likely to retain Bottas in favour of Zhou ahead of Nico Hulkenberg joining from Haas next season. But, speaking with Corriere della Sera, Binotto confirmed he and Mick Schumacher have spoken about the seat.

Binotto says Audi is ‘definitely’ considering signing Schumacher for the second Sauber drive beside Hulkenberg. While the 25-year-old has not raced in Formula 1 since Hulkenberg took his drive at Haas after the 2022 season, Binotto knows what the German can offer the team.

READ MORE: Who is F1 reserve and Alpine WEC star Mick Schumacher? Everything to know

Schumacher enjoyed two Formula 1 seasons for Haas after winning the 2020 Formula 2 title with PREMA as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. It was through his time in the FDA where Binotto got to know Schumacher, and believes he is now worth Audi considering for Sauber.

“We can afford the luxury of not rushing, since all the other teams have decided their line-ups,” Binotto said. “Two essential aspects: on the one hand, experience to set the growth path. On the other, a young, talented driver who can accompany us on the path to the top.

“Definitely [Schumacher is an option], we are evaluating it. I met him and spoke to him, I have known him for a long time, having been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. I know his strengths and weaknesses. He is one of the names we have in mind.”

Mick Schumacher failed to replicate his F2 title-winning form in Formula 1

Ferrari signed Schumacher to the FDA in 2019 after the German won the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. After one learning year in Formula 2 with PREMA, his consistency above all then saw Schumacher seal the 2020 title despite only winning two of the 24 races.

But life in Formula 1 with Haas was seldom as fruitful with just two points-scoring finishes in 44 Grand Prix entries. Schumacher achieved his first points in Formula 1 with P8 in the 2022 British Grand Prix and he immediately followed the result with P6 in the Austrian Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Sauber and Audi’s F1 COO Mattia Binotto

Heavy crashes also thwarted Schumacher’s sophomore season in Formula 1 with big shunts at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix. He even split Haas’ VF-22 in two with Schumacher’s qualifying crash in the Saudi Arabian GP and again in Monte Carlo.

But despite failing to come close to a Grand Prix win, podium or pole position, Binotto thinks Schumacher is worth Audi considering for Sauber. Hiring the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher on a long-term contract would also see Audi have two German drivers.