Sauber chief Mattia Binotto has asked a pointed question to Toto Wolff, questioning the Mercedes team principal’s decision to bring in Kimi Antonelli for next season, rather than Mick Schumacher.
Wolff has been a cheerleader for Schumacher over the past couple of seasons as the German racer attempted to get his F1 career back on track following a departure from Haas at the end of the 2022 campaign.
In many regards, Schumacher’s bid to get the final Sauber seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg was his last chance at F1 redemption, but Binotto instead opted to bring in Formula Two leader Gabriel Bortoleto, with Valtteri Bottas considered the next best option.
Asked whether Schumacher was ever in the conversation, Binotto replied: “Yeah. We had several talks, he was certainly a strong candidate. I know him very well from the past and I know his strengths and maybe his weaknesses as well, but certainly, I think he would have been a good choice.
“I think there have been many candidates and Mick would have been certainly a good choice as well. Now sometimes you need to come to a decision. I think there is no reason why or blames for me, the reason simply goes we decided for Gabriel and that’s it.
“And I think that maybe we should ask the same of Toto: ‘Why Kimi and not Mick?’ I think at some time you need to come to a decision and you make to make a decision. So today, we made the decision to employ and to hire Gabriel and we are happy.”
