F1 News
Schumacher will finally race again: 'This is not a step back'
Mick Schumacher will return to action in 2024. The German was sidelined for a year but will finally return to racing. He gets the chance at Alpine in the WEC, but the obvious link with Formula 1 has not escaped Schumacher either.
After two years at Haas, Schumacher's F1 adventure was already over (for now). The son of Michael Schumacher wasn't deemed good enough by Guenther Steiner and was replaced with Nico Hulkenberg. There was no place elsewhere on the grid, so Schumacher had to make do with a spot as a reserve driver at Mercedes.
The F1 grid for 2024 is also all but finalised. With only one spot left at Williams, where Logan Sargeant will most likely drive for another year, all the seats for next year are already taken. Schumacher extended his deal with Mercedes to remain part of F1 but also wanted to race again.
Schumacher back in action with Alpine
"Very important," Schumacher said in Abu Dhabi when asked about returning to racing. "Having sat out the whole year has been tough, and I'm just excited to be back in the car and go race, have a new challenge ahead of me. I'm a racing driver, I haven't been out of racing in 14 years previous to this. It was a clear choice and direction that I wanted to be racing next year."
No F1, but the World Endurance Championship for Schumacher. However, Mick would not call it a step back. "I wouldn't call it a sidestep. I think it has its charm and its challenges just as much as Formula 1 does. I'm doing that dual programme with the reserve driver role to keep in contact with Formula 1. I see it as a challenge and something where I can develop further."
Schumacher aims to return to F1
Although Schumacher signs for Alpine's WEC programme and is already linked to Mercedes' F1 team as a reserve driver, the link with Alpine's F1 team is also undeniable. If only for the fact that the press event was held during an F1 weekend, in the hospitality of Alpine's F1 team.
When GPblog asks if the fact that Alpine being active in F1 was an important factor for this deal, Schumacher said: "Definitely the link to Formula One is an interesting factor. The whole positioning that we're able to take in with Mercedes being the reserve driver here, having the WEC position with Alpine, but also that Alpine is in Formula One, I feel like that construction is a very good deal." Schumacher is clearly holding the door open. The contracts of both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly expire after 2024.