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Ralf Schumacher has sympathy for his nephew Mick: 'Hope was there'
Ralf Schumacher has sympathised with his nephew Mick Schumacher, who had an outside chance of securing an F1 future with Stake Sauber, which will be renamed Audi in 2026. Schumacher admits there was hope but is pleased to see a fresh face in Formula 1.
On Wednesday, Stake Sauber confirmed their lineup for the 2024 Formula 1 season. Both Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas will leave, with youngster Gabriel Bortoleto getting the seat alongside the already-announced Nico Hulkenberg.
How did Schumacher feel about the announcement?
Sauber had several options available to them. German Mick Schumacher, son of Michael Schumacher, had an outside chance of making a return to Formula 1 with the team that will soon race under the German name Audi. His uncle, Ralf, has reflected on the decision.
"The hope was there until the end that Mick would get a chance. But another new, young face in Formula 1, I like that," Ralf Schumacher told Sky's German branch.
Mick Schumacher was also part of the Alpine team and drove with them in the WEC. Yet they chose - after Esteban Ocon announced he would leave for Haas - to put junior driver Jack Doohan alongside Pierre Gasly in 2025. Schumacher found this out via Instagram, which Ralf Schumacher alluded to. "Mick has been through a lot in the last year and a half, like at Alpine when he found out via a post that he was not in the car."
Schumacher does not believe his nephew will return to F1 anytime soon. But he will never close the door on the top class of motorsport: "Formula 1 is a crazy business. You saw it with Franco Colapinto, who is now in the limelight. If you get the chance, something can happen. But I think it will be difficult after such a long time," the German acknowledged.
This article has been created in collaboration with Jeroen Immink
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