Mick Schumacher explains complications as Mercedes star given exit route from F1
Mick Schumacher has revealed some complications from his Alpine Hypercar test ahead of the United States Grand Prix. The German driver is angling towards a career in the World Endurance Championship as he prepares for life outside of F1.
The 24-year-old’s racing career until now has revolved around single-seater racing with Schumacher graduating through the feeder series ranks into F1 with Haas in 2021. Unfortunately, his career at the pinnacle of motorsport never really took off after two disappointing seasons with the team.
Schumacher was dropped by Guenther Steiner at the end of 2022 but was given a lifeline by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. However, he has been unable to find his way back onto the F1 grid in a full-time capacity for 2024, despite impressing with his test and reserve duties for the Silver Arrows.
With the doors seemingly closing on his F1 career, Schumacher has entered talks with Alpine over a move to the World Endurance Championship with Bruno Famin confirming that a private test between the two parties would take place this Autumn.
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Schumacher has now reported back, telling Sky Germany: “It’s a completely different feeling. The car is relatively big, relatively heavy. The cockpit is completely closed, which felt a bit claustrophobic at the beginning.
“But I got used to it relatively quickly. In terms of racing, it’s a little different because you share the car. That’s exciting in a way. The car has to last 24 hours. It’s a different challenge.”
Schumacher then revealed some of the challenges he faced during the test, explaining: “Our setup wasn’t optimal. We had the Le Mans setup on a track where a high-downforce setup is popular.
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“That’s why it felt slow and very sluggish. But of course, that also comes from that weight of 1000 kilograms. You also have traction control, which is a completely different driving experience.”
Despite the success of the first test between Alpine and Mercedes, there is to be no immediate decision on a contract with the French manufacturer. If he does make the move to WEC next season, he will join fellow axed F1 drivers Brendon Hartley, Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne in doing so.
Discussing the next steps for his adventures into the world of endurance racing, Schumacher said: “We’re in Austin now, the focus here is now. When we leave here, we’ll look at everything again and then hopefully have a few options.”
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