'Fingers crossed': Mick Schumacher named top choice for Cadillac seat by F1 champion Sebastian Vettel
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has touted the son of the sport's greatest driver, Mick Schumacher, as new team Cadillac's best driver option for next year.
The American team is set to land in the paddock for the 2026 season, but much is yet to be unveiled about the newest garage.
In Miami, the team unveiled their logo and brand 'identity' at an official event but driver pairings are still speculative.
READ MORE: 'I'll miss you': Alonso rocked by death of F1 staffer
READ MORE: When animals attack: Wild goat moment stuns Giro d'Italia
READ MORE: McLaren boss claims rival team tried to 'bully' Piastri
Vettel has thrown Schumacher's name into the ring for one of the two spots available in the team, but with two major driver changes early in the season, there will be multiple strong candidates he will need to contend with.
"I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he gets another chance [in Formula 1], because I believe he can absolutely keep up with the others," Vettel said in a Sport.de interview.
"He is much more mature. And I think he's doing a very good job at Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
"It would be nice if he gets a second chance in the Cadillac.
"We are obviously in contact and I also heard how things ended for him in Formula 1.
"I wish him the best."
Schumacher was dropped from Haas at the start of the 2023 season, making way for Nico Hulkenberg to replace him.
Mick Schumacher (left) and Sebastian Vettel (right) of Team Germany wave to the fans during the ROC Nations Cup. Getty
Since then, he moved to Alpine's World Endurance Championship campaign and recently teamed up with Vettel during the Race of Champions event in Sydney to represent Team Germany.
At Race of Champions, Schumacher exclusively told Wide World of Sports that he was still adjusting to the difference between F1 and endurance racing but getting back to F1 was his ultimate goal.
Since being dropped by Mercedes as their reserve driver, a title he held for 2023 and 2024, the German driver has no ties left to the Formula 1 sport.
Much is yet to be made public about the newest team in the sport, but driver rumours were heightened as Schumacher was seen as an official guest of attendance at the Miami event and spoke to senior members of staff in the paddock.
Sergio Perez and the now-dropped Australian Jack Doohan will be some of the ousted drivers competing with Schumacher for the final seats in the 11-team grid next year.
Mick Schumacher of Haas F1 attends the Drivers Press Conference ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico. Getty
The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is at "a completely different stage" of his career, Vettel admitted, but his previous outings with Haas linger in the paddock.
With an outfit of Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin for the 2021 season, the team scored no points and ended the year with a team-worst finish of last in the constructors championship.
During his two seasons, Schumacher had his fair share of crashes, famously taking out his gearbox in Monaco and only scoring points twice in his short career.
These incidents have greatly hindered the image of the young driver but Vettel, who now takes on a guiding role for young drivers in the sport, believes Schumacher is one of the best choices and deserves a second chance to exploit his newly-found maturity.
