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Red Bull argument proves Toto Wolff right about Lewis Hamilton replacement

AlphaTauri chief Franz Tost has admitted his move for Mick Schumacher was vetoed by the team’s Red Bull owners last year. Schumacher was in the frame to replace outgoing driver Pierre Gasly, with the Frenchman’s F1 seat eventually going to Nyck de Vries. And Tost has also insisted that Schumacher is “significantly better” at racing than he is currently viewed, proving that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was right to snap-up the German as Lewis Hamilton’s back-up driver.

“Initially, it was clear to me that our driver line-up would be Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda,” Tost told Formel1.de. “Then suddenly Pierre was assigned to Alpine, and that left a spot open for us. Until Monza, it was completely uncertain who our driver would be. And naturally I thought of Mick Schumacher.

“Mick Schumacher didn’t secure a cockpit for this year. For us, it was then open after the Pierre Gasly situation came to light. He is significantly better than he is currently perceived in the outside world. It was rejected though. We now have Nyck de Vries and there’s really nothing more to discuss.”

Schumacher failed to secure an F1 seat for the 2023 season after Haas replaced him with Nico Hulkenberg at the end of last year. And Wolff swept in to take him to the Silver Arrows as the team’s reserve driver.

“Mick is a talented young driver,” Wolff said at the time. “We’re delighted to have him join. He is a hard worker, has a calm and methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver. These are all important qualities.

“We also know that with two years of experience racing in F1 under his belt, he will be ready to step into the car at short notice to replace either Lewis or George [Russell], should that need arise.”

Schumacher was given his first opportunity at sitting inside the Mercedes cockpit at an F1 track earlier this week when he took to the Barcelona circuit to test the Pirelli tyres for next year. And following his outing, the 24-year-old sent a message to Wolff to say he was ready to step-in for Hamilton.

“It was great,” said Schumacher. “I learned a lot and it was a lot of fun. It was good to be back in the driving seat. This experience will definitely benefit me in my role. I have a better understanding of what to look out for and what to work on.

“I also have a better understanding of all the procedures and how the team works trackside. That would be a key factor in case I ever have to jump in and race. I’m very excited for the rest of the year. I’ve had a great time today and hopefully I’ll be back in a car at some point.”

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