Mattia Binotto says Kick Sauber had talks with ‘strong candidate’ Mick Schumacher before deciding on Gabriel Bortoleto

Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has admitted that Mick Schumacher was a “strong candidate” for a seat at Kick Sauber in 2025, with the team having held talks with the German driver before ultimately deciding on rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.

While Nico Hulkenberg was confirmed back in April as one half of the squad’s line-up for next year – ahead of their transition into being Audi’s works outfit in 2026 – months of speculation followed over who would partner the veteran racer.

ANALYSIS: Why Sauber chose to go with Bortoleto and youth rather than Bottas and experience

As time went by, the main candidates appeared to be the incumbent Valtteri Bottas and F2 championship leader Bortoleto – and it was confirmed this week that the team had signed Bortoleto, making him one of a number of young drivers set to make their debut in 2025.

However, Sauber considered other options during the process of choosing their driver and this included discussions with Schumacher, who has acted as a Mercedes reserve driver since his two-year stint racing for Haas came to an end after the 2022 campaign.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 19: Toto Wolff Team Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and Mick — Schumacher is often seen alongside Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in the garage during race weekends, having acted as a reserve driver for the team since exiting Haas at the end of 2022

When quizzed on how far talks with Schumacher had gone, Binotto explained: “Yeah, we had talks. He was certainly a strong candidate.

“I know him very well from the past, and I know strengths and maybe as well weaknesses, but certainly I think he would have been as well 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 certain decision and I don't think there is any reason why or blames – for me more the reason is simply we decide for Gabriel, and that's it.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Mattia Binotto, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber boss, looks on on the grid — Binotto says that various candidates were considered for the seat alongside Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025

“And I think that's maybe the same thing we should have to talk about – why Kimi [Antonelli] and not Mick [at Mercedes in 2025]? I think that sometimes you need to come to a decision. You make a decision. So today we made the decision to employ and to hire Gabriel, and we are happy.”

Bortoleto’s signing means that Kick Sauber’s current pairing of Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both find themselves without a seat next season – and, like Schumacher before him, Bottas is thought to be in the frame for a possible reserve role at Mercedes, a team that he raced for between 2016 and 2021.

There now remains only one unconfirmed spot on the 2025 grid at RB.