Mick Schumacher is set to be dropped by the Haas Formula 1 team for the 2023 season, according to reports.
Replacing him will be compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, according to Bild, who will return to a full-time role in F1 following three years on the sidelines.
The German publication says that the contract between Haas and Hulkenberg will be signed on Tuesday, before a formal announcement is made on Wednesday ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Schumacher is currently in his second F1 campaign with Haas, scoring two top-10 finishes this year, including a career-best sixth in Austria.
But Bild states that Haas has opted to part ways with the 2020 Formula 2 champion as his development has been too slow and too expensive.
Schumacher had sizeable F1 crashes this year, most notably at the Saudi Arabia and Monaco events in the early stage of the season.
His future has been in the air for some time, but it now appears that he will not be racing on the grid in 2023, with Hulkenberg set for his seat.
Hulkenberg made his F1 debut in 2010 with Williams, before having stints with Force India, Sauber and Renault.
The German driver has made a number of one-off appearances as a substitute driver, including at the opening two rounds of 2022 for Aston Martin, when he stood in for an unwell Sebastian Vettel.
Haas has consistently asserted that the personnel it wants for 2023 is someone that will drive the team forward, which hints that Hulkenberg’s F1 experience is a valuable asset for it.
Should Schumacher be dropped, he could chase a third driver role with the hope of returning to an F1 seat in 2024.
He has been linked to roles at Mercedes and Alpine for next year, assisting from the sidelines.
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