Toto Wolff blushed after being ignored by his team principal

Toto Wolff has had his latest offer rejected by another team boss in the paddock.

James Vowles has ruled Mick Schumacher out of the second seat at Williams, despite the German’s recommendation from team principal and former Mercedes colleague Toto Wolff.

The 24-year-old German has been out of action since the end of the 2022 season after ending two years with Haas. Schumacher failed to impress Guenther Steiner during his time with the team and suffered a reputation as a driver with a tendency to abandon his car.

Schumacher has since worked as a test and reserve driver for Mercedes, benefiting from his close personal relationship with Wolff and the team, although the German’s long-term goal remains a return full-time with F1 racing. However, according to a report from F1-Insider, while Wolff did everything he could to make Vowles consider Schumacher a strong option, including providing simulation data from his work with Mercedes, Vowles was not impressed and did not consider it a viable option.

Instead, the team is looking at Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich as an alternative to the under-pressure Logan Sargeant. The talented Brazilian is the reigning Formula 2 champion and has strongly replaced Lance Stroll during pre-season testing.

The report says that the 23-year-old Brazilian could bring in up to £13m (€15m) in funding for the team, increasing their development budget, while also bringing a level of consistency that Sargeant, who Still haven’t scored his goal. the first point in F1, which can be gathered.

Despite all these options, Vowles’ main priority is to get the Sergeant firing on all cylinders. The American rookie was promoted ahead of schedule and is a product of the team’s academy, suggesting he will have more time to adapt to the rigors of F1.

Outlining a roadmap for America’s youth, Vowles previously said:
“The comments I made to him were, this is a meritocracy, you’re not here just because we want you to be here, you’ve got to earn your place, this is the pinnacle of racing sport.

“And what I ask you to do is follow this general advice, follow this path of growth, keep moving forward from Alex and there’s a place for you here with your name on it.”