One of the final available seats on the Formula 1 grid for 2025 is at Williams.
Alex Albon is already signed up beyond the end of next year but his teammate Logan Sargeant is at serious risk of being let go.
Williams have been targeting Carlos Sainz and were believed to be the frontrunners to sign the three-time race winner.
However, the Spaniard continues to delay his decision on his next move knowing that he’s out of the door at Ferrari at the end of the campaign.
Journalist Christian Nimmervoll was writing in Motorsport Total and shared one driver who isn’t in contention to replace the American.
James Vowles has very high hopes for Williams and wants the best line-up possible for the future.
It’s why he’s now ruled out a potential move for Mick Schumacher for next year despite his 43 races of experience in Formula 1.
However, the 25-year-old German is going to get a chance with another team on the grid very soon to prove his credentials.
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Williams boss James Vowles rules out move for ‘too slow’ Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher is doing everything he can to try and earn another opportunity in Formula 1.
After being let go by Haas at the end of the 2022 season, he spent a year shadowing both Mercedes drivers.
Schumacher is now racing in the World Endurance Championship as part of the Alpine team although he had a disappointing 24 Hours of Le Mans albeit through no fault of his own.
Writing about the options available to James Vowles and who he’s considering beyond Sainz, Nimmervoll said: “We hear he doesn’t want Esteban Ocon (not enough of a team player for his taste) and Mick Schumacher (too slow).
“Plan B would most likely be Valtteri Bottas.”
Opportunities appear to be running out for Schumacher and Mercedes have ruled out replacing Lewis Hamilton with the German next year.
However, he’s got a test with Alpine’s F1 team next week alongside Jack Doohan and that’s his best chance to impress, as per Formula 1’s official website.
The Australian is one of the favourites to replace Esteban Ocon next year, but if Schumacher can impress when racing against him then he might leapfrog him in Bruno Famin’s estimations.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Williams facing a nervous wait to finalise their 2025 driver line-up
James Vowles may have ruled out a move for Mick Schumacher but there appears to be less certainty in his pursuit of top target Carlos Sainz.
Alpine entering the race to sign Sainz off the back of back-to-back double points finishes suddenly puts them in a very good position.
Especially when Williams struggled so much at the Spanish Grand Prix, with Logan Sargeant once again finishing last in a car he found difficult to drive all weekend and Alex Albon complaining about the car over the team radio.
Vowles won’t be short of drivers offering their services to Williams for next year given the numbers of out-of-contract racers on the grid.
He’s in a strong position to dismiss needing to move to Schumacher who failed to prove himself during his previous spell in Formula 1.
However, he won’t want to be looking too far down his shortlist considering how important having two strong drivers is going to be not just in 2025 but when the new regulations are introduced the following year.
The post ‘We hear’: James Vowles has ruled out Williams move for 43-race driver, he’s ‘too slow’ – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.