Like his father Michael once did
Mick Schumacher finds a new challenge
November 22, 2023, 12:45 p.m
Mick Schumacher will drive for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship next year. The 24-year-old will also be behind the wheel at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, he can keep his role as a test and reserve driver in Formula 1 at Mercedes.
Mick Schumacher is starting again. Finally. “A new chapter is beginning for me,” says Schumacher, looking forward to his new job. And: “I can’t wait to get started.” Not as a regular driver in Formula 1, but at the racing classic in Le Mans. Like his famous father once did. Because: Schumacher is taking the step into the World Endurance Championship with Alpine next season.
“I missed racing sorely this year,” says Schumacher, who, as a Mercedes reserve driver, has only racked up countless hours in the simulator this year: “It’s what I’ve loved since I was a child and it was sometimes difficult to teach others Watching drivers on the track.” But that’s over now.
“The car is impressive”
Finally the smell of petrol again, finally real racing again with wild wheel-to-wheel duels, finally chasing the best times again, finally pressing the accelerator pedal again. “The car is impressive,” says Schumacher about his new hypercar for the WEC season, the change presents the 24-year-old with a real challenge: “I grew up with formula cars. Driving a car with a closed cockpit and covered wheels is a great opportunity to improve my driving skills.”
Of course, Schumacher would have liked to get a regular cockpit in Formula 1, but with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the German is tackling a new prestige project. Dad Michael Schumacher drove in the classic in 1991 – and came fifth. The son of the record world champion will also remain in the premier class; Schumacher will continue to be a replacement driver for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the weakening top team Mercedes in 2024. The Silver Arrows also confirmed this on Wednesday.
Schumacher doesn’t have to start from scratch
But Schumacher’s focus will probably shift to his personal goals in the World Endurance Championship. After a year without racing, the former Formula 2 champion is eager to get behind the wheel of the Alpine hypercar with the registration number A424. “Long-distance racing is a new challenge for me,” says Schumacher: “And I am sure that we will experience great moments together with Alpine next year.”
Schumacher doesn’t have to start from scratch. In October he completed test drives in Jerez and the impressions were positive for both sides. “We were very happy with his performance and with the way he dealt with the team. I think he was happy too,” Alpine’s team boss Bruno Famin said at the beginning of November on the sidelines of the Mexican Grand Prix. Now the contract was signed. Finally.