Tost wanted Schumacher for Alpha Tauri seat’ Franz Tost has conceded that he would’ve entertained the idea of signing Mick Schumacher to AlphaTauri for the 2023 F1 season, and revealed the reasons for the team’s lack of pursuit.
“Political reasons” stopped Franz Tost from rescuing Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career.
Tost wanted Schumacher for Alpha Tauri seat
Franz Tost has revealed that Mick Schumacher was on AlphaTauri’s radar for a 2023 seat, prior to the Red Bull-affiliated team signing Nyck de Vries.
The Italian team played a big part in the driver transfers of the 2022 season, with the team wanting to ensure they had a suitable replacement for Pierre Gasly before allowing the Frenchman to sign for Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso.
With Dutchman Nyck de Vries impressing in his one-off appearance for Williams at the Italian Grand Prix, Helmut Marko moved swiftly to sign the Mercedes reserve driver for a seat for 2023.
Prior to de Vries’ impressive drive, there had been uncertainty about the identity of AlphaTauri’s second 2023 driver, with IndyCar driver Colton Herta and struggling Haas driver Mick Schumacher being loosely linked with the seat.
AlphaTauri Team Principal Tost confirmed that 23-year-old Schumacher had been on his radar prior to de Vries’ signing.
“For me personally, he was already a topic [of conversation],” confirmed Tost when asked about Schumacher in an interview with RTL.
The Team Principal confirmed that he “would actually have liked to have Mick in the car”, before adding that he is “convinced that Mick is talented and that he also has what it takes to make a successful Formula 1 [career].”
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Tost: Political reasons behind Schumacher decision
When it became increasingly likely that Schumacher would be shown the door at Haas, Red Bull’s Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko had been asked about the prospect of signing the German to Red Bull’s driver roster.
The Austrian shut down the links, citing Schumacher’s Ferrari links as a problem.
Tost backed up Marko’s assessment, adding in his RTL interview that no move was made for Schumacher because of “political reasons” and because Schumacher was a “Ferrari junior.”
“It then never came to a commitment,” Tost added, before admitting: “But personally I think very highly of him.”
Schumacher ultimately signed a reserve driver role with Mercedes, with the 2020 Formula 2 champion aiming to follow de Vries’ path and return to a full-time drive after a development season with the Brackley-based team.
“Political reasons” stopped Franz Tost from rescuing Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career.
Schumacher, 23, lost his race seat at Haas after two initial seasons in F1, and will instead be the official reserve driver at Mercedes in 2023.
But if Alpha Tauri boss Tost had his way, the young German may have been paired with Yuki Tsunoda this year rather than Dutch rookie Nyck de Vries.
“He was considered by me personally,” Tost told the German broadcaster ntv.
“I would actually have liked to have had Mick in the car. I am convinced that Mick is talented enough to be successful in Formula 1.”
When asked why Schumacher was not ultimately signed, Austrian Tost indicated it was because of “other circumstances” and “political reasons”.
One such problem for Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri, he explained, was that Schumacher had been a “Ferrari junior” – even though that relationship has now been severed with his move to Mercedes.
“So there was never a deal, but personally I think a lot of him,” Tost said.
However, he thinks the reserve role at Mercedes is still a good opportunity for the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher.
“It’s a very, very good team – one of the best in Formula 1,” Tost said. “So of course he can learn a great deal and hopefully have the opportunity to take the car out onto the track several times.
“That would give him more confidence, increase his technical understanding and “hopefully bring him back to the grid at some point.”
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