Dr. Helmut Marko stated it would be “incomprehensible” for Audi F1 to simply retain Valtteri Bottas for 2025.
The renowned Red Bull F1 consultant is a consistent advocate for young drivers, having successfully pushed to replace Daniel Ricciardo with 22-year-old rookie Liam Lawson at RB F1.
“Oliver Bearman and particularly Franco Colapinto have shown that young drivers are ready for promotion, and the old philosophy of some team principals that you can only promote drivers with three or four years of experience in a top team is outdated. Mercedes has now proven this with its decision on Antonelli, just as Red Bull Racing has done repeatedly in the past.”
“You can rely on youth. It’s somewhat risky, but it’s manageable and worth it. You have to give these boys a chance to prove themselves in F1 after climbing the ranks.”
Colapinto, 21, and the even younger F2 leader Gabriel Bortoleto have both been linked to the final vacant seat on the 2025 grid, with Sauber/Stake F1 (future Audi team) alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
But Marko believes that “Mick Schumacher absolutely deserves” a second chance in Formula 1 after his two unfortunate years with Haas.
“He wasn’t treated fairly by Netflix superstar Gunther Steiner. But behind the scenes, all you hear are good things about him.”
However, it seems Audi has opted for the safer choice by keeping the experienced 34-year-old Bottas in the car, at least for 2025.
“Schumacher would have been an almost risk-free choice. If his performance wasn’t good, you could always make a replacement for 2026.”
“But the Sauber certainly won’t be a winning car next year. That means there would have been no pressure on Audi or the driver.”
Several sources claimed during the last Singapore Grand Prix that Bottas seemed to have secured at least a one-year contract extension with Sauber.
“I don’t know exactly,” replied Marko, always well-informed and quick to share some inside information, “but if the situation is really such that Bottas has his chance, then all of this is even more incomprehensible to me.”
The Austrian laments that if Schumacher doesn’t return to the Formula 1 grid in 2025, he will almost certainly never make a comeback.
“I think his Formula 1 career would be over. In that case, he should focus on endurance racing, where he has already found success, and continue with that.”
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Audi’s Safe Choice Over Youth Risks Puzzles Marko Audi’s Safe Choice Over Youth Risks Puzzles Marko
