F1 News: Mick Schumacher Looks Forward To Formula 1 Return - "Mercedes Knows What I Can Do"
Alpine World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver Mick Schumacher is optimistic about making a return to Formula 1, expressing interest in filling Lewis Hamilton's seat at Ferrari next year. Currently affiliated with Mercedes, Schumacher underlined that the team is well aware of his capabilities, suggesting potential opportunities for securing an F1 seat in the future.
Key Takeaways:
- Alpine WEC driver Mick Schumacher expresses optimism about returning to Formula 1 and eyeing Lewis Hamilton's seat at Ferrari in 2025.
- Despite losing his full-time Haas F1 seat in 2022 and currently participating in WEC with Alpine, Schumacher maintains his role as a reserve driver for Mercedes.
- Schumacher hopes to secure a Formula 1 seat in the future, acknowledging the potential opportunity with Hamilton's move and emphasizing his capabilities known to Mercedes.
Schumacher remained on the sidelines as Mercedes reserve driver last season after losing his full-time Haas F1 seat at the end of 2022. Being unable to secure a seat in Formula 1 for the current season, the 24-year-old driver took up the WEC project with Alpine.
The new contract allows him to perform his Mercedes reserve driver role, but Schumacher hopes to secure a Formula 1 seat in the future since it remains his ultimate dream. With Hamilton's major Ferrari move in 2025 and considering several driver contracts on the F1 grid scheduled to expire at the end of this year, the Swiss-German driver anticipates a return to the premier class as a full-time driver.
Speaking to Sky Germany during the pre-season testing session in Bahrain, Schumacher said:
"I'm of course aware that Lewis' Mercedes seat will then be free.
"I'm still keeping an eye on Formula 1 and hopefully, the dream will come true again. But in the end it's important that I also do my things and see my role as a reserve driver - and especially my role as a WEC driver in the foreground. If I perform well, let's see where it takes me.
"I'm sure that Mercedes knows what I can do. You've also seen it in the simulation sessions, in the junior categories and at Haas. Hopefully, it'll be enough to have more people in the WEC and Formula 1 to impress."
