Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend Michael, is set for another season on the sidelines after being snubbed of a seat for the upcoming campaign.
The 25-year-old has been attempting to follow in his father’s legendary racing footsteps having come through the ranks of the junior adaptations before joining Ferrari’s driver academy in 2019.
However, despite success in F2 and F3 formats, Schumacher struggled when he moved into the professional senior ranks with Haas where he raced for two seasons, finishing 19th and 16th before being let go.
He is currently Mercedes’ reserve driver – along with Frederik Vesti – but had been seeking a role on centre stage with another team.
He was reportedly an option for the vacant Sauber seat – however that has now been taken up by F2 talent Gabriel Bortoleto.
On Wednesday, Sauber confirmed that current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be released at the end of this season and Bortoleto has been signed.
Schumacher was also snubbed by Williams when they needed a replacement for the under-performing Logan Sargeant. They instead opted for Franco Colapinto.
Away from the track, Schumacher is part of a close family network that has kept dad, Michael’s, personal life away from the private eye since he suffered a horror skiing accident 11 years ago alongside Mick.
The F1 legend won a record-breaking seven driver championship titles during an illustrious career in one of the world’s most dangerous sports, but has been receiving around-the-clock care ever since his accident.
Schumacher Snr is believed to have recently broke cover to attend his daughter’s wedding that was held at the family’s £27m mansion in Majorca with Mick also in attendance.
However, despite having so much going on away from the track, Mick was hoping to return to a main F1 birth next year with Sauber – however that dream has been crushed.
If he does decide to turn his back on the sport then Mick will be supported by the blossoming romance he shared with model Laila Hasanovic who is believed to be one of the few people outside the family allowed access to stricken Michael.
Mick, 25 and Bosnian-born Laila have been together for 18 months, and, according to German newspaper Bild, she is the only one of his girlfriends who has ever been allowed to visit Michael.
Bild says the family are ‘smitten’ with the model, who is regularly included in their family plans and was photographed with Michael’s wife Corinna at the FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar in March.
