Nico Rosberg claims Williams chief James Vowles is "unsure" about giving Mick Schumacher a seat in Formula One next year.
Schumacher, who is the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael, is being tipped to succeed Logan Sargeant at Williams. Sargeant, 22, is in danger of losing his seat after failing to record a single top-10 finish this year, with team-mate Alex Albon picking up 21 points.
Schumacher, 24, is currently Mercedes' reserve driver after being dropped by Haas ahead of this year. The German has done well since his axe and is confident of making a comeback, with Rosberg insisting he's heard "good things" about the driver's progress.
Yet it's claimed Vowles isn't willing to give him Sargeant's spot just yet. Sargeant is a popular driver due to him being the only American on the grid, helping Williams generate more revenue. Three races take place in the United States each year.
Sargeant also comes from a wealthy background. Rosberg, who won the Drivers' Championship in 2016, gave his opinion on the matter during an interview with Sky in Germany. "I hear that Logan Sargeant brings in some money," revealed Rosberg.
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The former world champion also thinks Vowles will have reservations about Schumacher's time with Haas. Schumacher failed to score a single point during the 2021 campaign and recorded just two top-10 finishes last year, earning 12 career points to date.
"Vowles is a very numbers-focused person," added Rosberg. "When we look at Mick's performance at the end of his previous F1 stint with Haas over the season compared to Magnussen, it wasn't exactly outstanding. So James Vowles is a bit unsure at the moment."
Mick Schumacher is looking for a route back onto the grid (PA)Do you think Williams should give a seat to Mick Schumacher? Let us know in the comments below!
Yet Rosberg has noted Schumacher's improvement at Mercedes. "I hear a lot of good things," he said. "Not just the lap times, but also his overall feedback, which is very valuable for Mercedes. That's why Toto (Wolff, Mercedes chief) is very supportive."
The second spot at Williams is one of the few seats remaining for the 2024 campaign, with most teams already decided. There could be a space at Alfa Romeo, with Zhou Guanyu's contract due to expire, while both AlphaTauri drivers are yet to be named.
Yuki Tsunoda's contract with AlphaTauri expires this year and it's unclear whether Daniel Ricciardo will continue with the team, who are owned by Red Bull. Both Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri are set to be rebranded next year, with the former team leaving F1.
Alpine, Ferrari, Haas, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull have already confirmed their drivers for next year, with Mercedes recently agreeing a new contract Lewis Hamilton. Lance Stroll should also continue alongside Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin.
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