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Why Mercedes turned down chance to recruit Schumacher

Photo: © LAT Images

Why Mercedes turned down chance to recruit Schumacher

He is now with Ferrari.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that the Silver Arrows considered recruiting Mick Schumacher to their academy, but ultimately decided against the idea as they couldn’t find room for him.

Last year, Schumacher won the Formula 3 championship and it was around that time he was taken on by Ferrari as part of their junior driver programme. Should he progress to Formula 1 and compete for Ferrari, he’ll have followed in the same footsteps of his father, Michael Schumacher, who achieved huge success with the Scuderia in his career.

The seemingly inevitable connection with Ferrari for Schumacher might not have happened, though, if Mercedes came calling.

"Yes we had thought of it, but how could we? We are already struggling to find a seat in F1 for George Russell and [Esteban] Ocon," Wolff told Gazzetta Dello Sport about signing Mick.

Wolff went on to praise the development of the 20-year-old, and reckons he will be a success in Formula 1 when he eventually makes the move from F2.

"But Mick is a good boy, a character, he grew so much in F3 and F2, and I am sure that, when the time comes, he will do well also in F1," the Austrian added.

Schumacher has struggled in 2019 since making the step-up to Formula 2, but did win his first race ahead of the summer break at the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

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