Mick Schumacher advised to say 'no' to Audi-Sauber

Racing legend advises Schumacher against Audi-Sauber, warning of a potential repeat of his turbulent Haas F1 experience.

A German racing legend believes Mick Schumacher should turn down the opportunity to return to the Formula 1 grid next year with Audi-owned Sauber.

Audi’s acquisition of Sauber to launch its F1 project in 2026 has faced challenges, with top-tier drivers like Carlos Sainz declining the chance to join the team in 2025, and Volkswagen, Audi’s parent company, now grappling with financial difficulties.

Nonetheless, the brand continues to recruit prominent names, including Audi F1’s new CEO Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull.

Recent additions include new Technical Director Giampaolo Dall’Ara and former Ferrari Strategy Director Inaki Rueda, demoting long-serving Beat Zehnder to a lesser role.

On the driver front, Nico Hulkenberg is already signed for 2025 and beyond, while Valtteri Bottas, Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, and Mick Schumacher are contenders for the second seat.

For Schumacher, it would mark a return to F1 for the 25-year-old, who has been on the sidelines since the end of 2022 as a Mercedes reserve driver, pairing that role with a WEC seat at Alpine.

Former F1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck advises Schumacher to decline Audi-Sauber if a firm offer arises.

“For me, Mick wouldn’t be in the right place at Audi,” the 73-year-old told Eurosport.

He believes a struggling team like Sauber in 2025 would set Schumacher up for “a repeat of his nightmare” at Haas under Gunther Steiner’s leadership.

“He’s already been through that story once.”

“At Haas, Steiner crushed a young man still gaining experience through stupidity and a lack of empathy. It’s unacceptable. Steiner damaged Schumacher for the rest of his driving career.”

Stuck therefore believes Audi is “the wrong path” for the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

“He just won’t find the same standards there as with other teams. They have to rebuild everything from scratch.”

“In the first year, he’ll have no chance there, looking at the team’s current level.”