Mick Schumacher believed in his chance until the end. The Germans spread (purpose) optimism to the outside world. During the season finale of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Bahrain, he told the TV channel Sport1: “Plan A is still in the works.” By this the 25-year-old meant a return to the premier class.
This has been done since Wednesday (November 6th). At least for now. Gabriel Bortoleto gets the last regular spot for 2025. The Brazilian will be Nico Hülkenberg’s new Sauber teammate and official Audi works driver. From 2026, the premium manufacturer from Ingolstadt will take over the Swiss team.
Mick Schumacher had hoped in vain for a German dream marriage. Audi’s F1 project manager Mattia Binotto preferred the current Formula 2 championship leader Bortoleto to the more experienced Schumacher. Nevertheless, Binotto praised the German during the introduction of his new signing: “There were discussions with him. He would definitely have been a good choice.”
Alpine
Mick Schumacher has been driving for Alpine in the WEC since the 2024 season.
WEC as a permanent solution?
The WEC driver from Alpine suffered the next setback on the transfer market in 2024. Mercedes preferred to choose super talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the successor to Lewis Hamilton instead of giving their own replacement driver Schumacher the cockpit. As the season progressed, Alpine decided on Jack Doohan as the second man alongside Pierre Gasly for 2025 for its Formula 1 team.
Williams gave preference to Franco Colapinto when patience with Logan Sargeant ran out after the Dutch GP. Colapinto delivered decent performances in his first races and is highly valued by some team bosses for the future. Red Bull in particular is keen on the Argentine.
After the last basket, there is now a fundamental question at Schumacher: What permanent alternatives to Formula 1 are there in the motorsport world? The logical solution would be to remain in the WEC. He has been driving in the World Endurance Championship series since this season. The racing driver actually wanted to use the Alpine cockpit to offer himself for the Formula 1 regular seat with the French. After initial problems, Schumacher improved and also delivered at the 24-hour classic in Le Mans.
The son of record world champion Michael Schumacher has now found joy in his A424 prototype, which was built according to the LMDh concept. In Fuji, at the penultimate race of the season, he also made it onto the podium for the first time with his teammates Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxivière. Alpine is happy with Schumacher. According to our information, he has had a contract for three months, which he had not signed until recently in order to keep his last option open in Formula 1.
Motorsport Images
With the Alpine A424, the German achieved the first podium finish of his WEC career in Fuji.
Schumacher was on the list at Ferrari
When it became apparent that things were going to be difficult with Formula 1 cockpits, the German also looked around at the competition. Ferrari expressed interest in Schumacher. The Italians would have placed the former Ferrari Junior in the third factory-supported 499P. However, the yellow racing car is financed with private money. Money that Schumacher would not have brought with him. In the end, Phil Hanson got the contract. The Englishman replaces Robert Shwartzman, who is moving to the IndyCar Series.
For Schumacher himself, the IndyCar option was less attractive than the WEC. Although the formula cars built by Dallara are demanding, the racing series no longer has the glory of the past. In addition, the oval courses are intimidating for many European pilots. The risk of getting seriously injured there is higher than on circuits. Team owner Dale Coyne nevertheless reached out to Schumacher and offered him a place in his IndyCar racing team at the end of May this year.
Wilhelm
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff (right) hired Mick Schumacher as a replacement driver after his dismissal from Haas.
Formula 1 return in the stars
After the 43-time Grand Prix starter was shown the door by former Haas team boss Günther Steiner at the end of 2022, Toto Wolff caught him. The Austrian signed Schumacher as a Mercedes test driver. But he never rose above this status. Although Wolff, like Binotto now, regularly praised him and raved about his work in the simulator, he did not give him a seat in one of his cars.
With the Silver Arrows, Schumacher could still remain in the orbit of Formula 1. The job already gave him the opportunity to test older F1 racers. Among other things, he was allowed to practice in so-called TPC cars (racing cars that are at least two years old) for the Mercedes customer team McLaren.
He currently shares his role at Mercedes with Frederik Vesti. The Dane has not (yet) managed promotion to the premier class either. In addition to Vesti, Felipe Drugovich is also on the Aston Martin bench. The 2022 F2 champion has not yet found a regular cockpit in the premier class.
It is unlikely that the young drivers will get another chance after several years without Formula 1 appearances. This also applies to Mick Schumacher. The future of his motorsport career probably lies in the Endurance World Championship in the next few years.
