Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has claimed that Sauber choosing Valtteri Bottas over Mick Schumacher for the 2025 Formula 1 season would be “incomprehensible”.
Sauber has the last remaining place on next season’s grid outside the Red Bull stable as it continues to consider the options to partner the incoming Nico Hulkenberg.
The Hinwil-based squad has admitted that it is contemplating whether to go with another experienced name alongside the veteran German or promote a rookie driver.
Franco Colapinto has emerged as a credible candidate amid his impressive outing with Williams this term, while McLaren’s Gabriel Bortoleto is also on Sauber’s radar.
However, Marko believes that Sauber, which will transition into a works Audi setup in 2026, would be well-advised to grant Schumacher a second chance in the series.
Schumacher, now a reserve driver at Mercedes, has been unable to secure a permanent drive since Haas opted to drop him at the end of his sophomore term in 2022.
“I think Audi’s car will definitely not be a winning car next year,” Marko told Sport.de. “That means there will be no pressure for Audi or its drivers.
“It would be a good comparison with Nico Hulkenberg. If the performance is not right, you can always replace him for 2026.”
Schumacher’s chances appear slim, though, as Bottas is rumoured to be in line to earn a short-term extension to continue his association with the Swiss-based outfit.
Marko has contended that it would be ungraspable should Sauber choose to retain the Finn, who has been with the side since departing Mercedes at the end of 2021.
“If the situation is really that Valtteri Bottas gets the chance, then the whole thing is even more incomprehensible to me,” he continued.
Schumacher’s F1 hopes could be over
Schumacher was in the mix to complete the ongoing campaign with Williams when it decided to axe Logan Sargeant, but the Grove-based squad went with Colapinto.
According to Marko, Schumacher also missing out on the vacant Sauber seat would all but guarantee that his prospects of ever conducting an F1 comeback are over.
“I think the Formula 1 story is really over for Schumacher if he doesn’t get that Audi seat.
“Then he has to concentrate on the long-distance races in the WEC, where he was already very successful.
“If he wants to stay in motorsport, he has to find something that he likes, but where he also has a chance to win.”
Schumacher not giving up on F1 return
However, Schumacher, who competes in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine alongside his Mercedes role, is not giving up hope on landing an F1 reprieve.
“Whatever happens for the future, will be decided at some point still this year, hopefully,” he told Autosport.
“As soon as I know what I will be doing, I will for sure put a press release out there and let you all know.
“But definitely the hope is for Formula 1, because that is what I dreamt of since I was a little boy, but it definitely feels great to be in WEC.”
READ MORE: Exclusive: Bottas opens up on Audi plans that make F1 success ‘a matter of time’
