Mick Schumacher is trying to return to Formula 1, but he probably won’t be able to do it next year.
Mick Schumacher wants to emulate Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon or Esteban Ocon and return to the starting grid after a break and the role of reserve driver.
But he probably won’t be able to do it next year. Theoretically, there are two / three seats left – for AlphaTauri and Williams. But Helmut Marko has already rejected Schumacher and will most likely choose between Ricciardo, Lawson and Cunoda. Sargeant will probably stay with Williams.
Schumacher wants to race, and the increasingly prestigious WEC series, which also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, seems logical.
During Friday, there were speculations that Schumacher could be part of the crew of the A424_β hypercar, which is being prepared by Alpine for the year 2024.
Motorsport Total asked Schumacher about the speculation but did not get much information from him.
“There are always some rumours,” Schumacher told Motorsport-Total.com in Singapore. “Sometimes there are things you have to evaluate and understand first. That’s all I want to say at the moment.’
The German website took a detour and asked the former Haas driver if he even liked the prototypes as drivers. “Honestly, for me… It’s about evaluating the options that are out there and understanding what other options there might be. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
The WEC season will be a bit more demanding next year, but Schumacher could theoretically drive in endurance races but also fulfill the role of reserve driver. Toto Wolff would welcome it.
“It would be a great shame if Formula 1 lost Mick,” said Wolff. “But one thing is clear: we will not lose him! If his engagement with another manufacturer allows him to be a reserve driver with us, then of course we will keep him.”
Wolff repeatedly says that Schumacher is doing a good job on the simulator and deserves a second chance.
“If you don’t feel good in the car for a long time, you get under pressure because the performances don’t come. And I think that’s exactly what happened to him at Haas. He is fast. You can’t win Formula 3 and Formula 2 if you’re not fast. If you win there, you have potential. But for some reason he was unable to show it.’
The combination of reserve driver and WEC pilot would be good even according to Ralf Schumacher. “It doesn’t matter what race, what circuit, what overtaking maneuver – it’s still better than nothing! And most importantly, it’s great training in such a top car anyway,” said Mick’s uncle.
F1 driver at Daytona
Le Mans was won by Hülkenberg and Alonso, among others, and this year by Giovinazzi. And of course a number of drivers that we have seen in F1 a long time ago.
The winter break will be relatively short next year. Nevertheless, some of the current drivers jump to sports cars.
According to sportscar365, one of Formula One’s “active drivers” will drive January’s 24 Hours of Daytona for the WTR Andretti team. However, team owner Wayne Taylor did not want to reveal who it was.
