Dropped McLaren driver given F1 lifeline as Haas exit looms for Mick Schumacher
Former McLaren F1 racer Stoffel Vandoorne has been named as a back-up driver for Aston Martin in a move which suggests Mick Schumacher will be let go by Haas.
Vandoorne drove for McLaren in 2017 and 2018 as teammate to Fernando Alonso, and the pair will be reunited with the Spanish legend joining the Silverstone-based squad as a race driver for 2023.
Vandoorne arrived in F1 to much fanfare following an impressive junior career but he was given little chance to impress as McLaren were enduring one of the most uncompetitive periods in their history.
READ MORE: Stoffel Vandoorne addresses F1 question as he pledges future to Formula E
After being dropped by the Woking team, the Belgian has enjoyed success in Formula E, winning the all-electric championship with Mercedes earlier this year. He will defend his title in 2023 with the DS Penske team but will combine his Formula E duties as a reserve and test driver with the ambitious Aston team. He will share that role with reigning Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich.
Speaking to Daily Star Sport in August, Vandoorne conceded he was unlikely to return to F1, saying: “My future is Formula E. I’ve done the Formula 1 gig for two years in ‘17 and ‘18. I don’t feel like I’ll be in Formula 1 again.
“But never say never. The world is a strange place. Anything is possible but, personally, it’s not something I have in the back of my mind. It’s not something where I’m thinking ‘I have to get back into a Formula 1 seat’.”
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It is clear Aston are preparing for life without Nico Hulkenburg, their current reserve driver, who stepped in for Sebastian Vettel for the first two races at the start of 2022 after the German tested positive for Covid.
Hulkenburg is the front-runner to replace Schumacher at Haas. They are the only team with a 2023 seat still up for grabs after Williams confirmed American Logan Sargeant will replace Nicholas Latifi provided he finishes the F2 season with the required number of super licence points.
Schumacher’s place has been in doubt for most of the season and it appears the German has not done enough to stay in F1, for 2023 at least.
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