Mick Schumacher in a Mercedes role during 2023 season — Photo: © IMAGO

Williams

Schumacher hits out at Williams over 'absurd' driver SNUB

German racer blasts Williams over driver swap

Harry Whitfield

Friday 30 August 2024 10:57

Ralf Schumacher has questioned Williams' shock decision to replace Logan Sargeant with Franco Colapinto instead of Mick Schumacher.

On Tuesday, Williams announced that their academy driver Colapinto would replace Sargeant for the rest of the 2024 season.

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The F1 paddock rumours suggested that the Mercedes reserve driver and Liam Lawson were the main choices to replace the American driver for the remaining nine races.

However, Williams opted against bringing in someone from outside their junior programme which has left the Sky Germany pundit scratching his head as to why.

Mick Schumacher last drove full-time in F1 with Haas in 2022

Logan Sargeant's crash in FP3 at the Dutch GP was the final straw for Williams

Ralf Schumacher slams Williams for 'absurd' decision

The 25-year-old currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Alpine in the Hypercar category.

He has been looking for a way back into F1 recently and he missed out on the vacant Alpine seat to rookie Jack Doohan last week.

Ex-F1 driver Schumacher believes his nephew deserved the Williams seat though as he told the German Press Agency: "You can perhaps respect this decision because Colapinto is a driver from Williams' junior development program.

Ralf Schumacher last competed in F1 back in 2007

"But I think it is absurd and makes no sense from a performance perspective.

"I think the risk for the racing team and also the driver is much, much higher than if they had put someone with experience like Mick in," explained the 49-year-old.

He believed there was 'no amount in the world' that would justify the signing of the young Argentine and that Mick Schumacher was a driver who could 'take them further'.