Ralf Schumacher has delivered a scathing verdict on Colton Herta's chances of landing Cadillac's second seat for 2027, dismissing the American's prospects out of hand.
Herta took to the track for Cadillac again during first practice in Sao Paulo, his sixth outing of the season as the squad's reserve driver.
The 26-year-old stood in for Sergio Perez, who has already extended his own deal with the American manufacturer through 2029.
Herta completed over 24 laps which meant he finally moved to 40 points on his superlicence, enough to race in F1 should Cadillac offer him Valtteri Bottas' seat.
Asked whether he hoped to land a full-time race seat for 2027, Herta told Sky Sports in Brazil that the goal remains firmly on his radar.
"That is of course my goal. That's why I'm here and that's why I'm giving so much for it. I hope that it happens."
Colton Herta 'has no business' in F1 - Ralf Schumacher
But Ralf Schumacher, working as a pundit for Sky DE, does not rate Herta's prospects at all.
"Only if Easter and Christmas fall on the same day. No, honestly, it's pointless," insisted Schumacher.
"He's just burning fuel, as Franz Tost [the long-time F1 team principal] would say. I don't even know what the point is. You could put other people, young people, in the car instead.
"Herta was really, really bad in Formula 2. For me, he hasn't earned this at all."
Herta is in his first season in Formula 2 having made his name in IndyCar, but results have been underwhelming.
After 12 race weekends he sits just 19th in the standings on 26 points, hardly the form to strengthen a Formula 1 case.
"I think it's nice that they're trying to push an American driver. But it has to make sense, and he has no business being in Formula 1," added Schumacher.
As for who Schumacher would put in the Cadillac instead, the German pointed to a current McLaren reserve driver as a far stronger candidate.
"Leonardo Fornaroli is certainly a candidate who would deserve the chance too," he said. "He became Formula 2 and Formula 3 champion after all. An absolutely strong guy."
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