Alpine is making efforts to retain Mick Schumacher in its World Endurance Championship line-up next year. The German driver joined the team this year as part of the new LMDh program, competing alongside Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxiviere. Despite his performance in WEC, Schumacher maintains his aspirations of returning to Formula 1, a goal he has reiterated on several occasions.
After leaving Haas in 2023, Schumacher decided to join Alpine in WEC, but the possibility of returning to Formula 1 in 2025 remains his priority. The head of Signatech Alpine, Philippe Sinault, has confirmed that they are in active discussions with Schumacher to ensure his continued participation with the team. Sinault emphasized that the driver’s role in WEC is crucial for them, although he acknowledged that Formula 1 still holds a strong attraction for Schumacher.
"We want Mick to stay with us. His adaptation to WEC has been excellent, but we know his priority is to return to Formula 1," commented Sinault, who expects news about the driver's future in the coming months.
Possibilities in Formula 1
Bruno Famin, who oversees both the Formula 1 and WEC programs for Alpine, praised Schumacher's performance in the endurance championship, highlighting his quick adaptation. Famin noted that although Schumacher continues to prioritize Formula 1, the team would be delighted to keep working with him in WEC. "We are very happy with Mick. He has done a great job, and it would be fantastic to keep working together," said Famin.
However, Schumacher's chances of returning to Formula 1 in 2025 seem limited, as there is only one seat left available at Sauber.
Podium at Fuji and its implications
In the penultimate round of WEC at Fuji, Schumacher, along with his teammates, achieved his first podium in the championship. This result is significant for Alpine, but Schumacher has made it clear that this success will not influence his future decisions. "The podium was a great result, but my focus remains on Formula 1," Schumacher stated.
It is expected that the driver will make a decision before the end of the year, although the Alpine team continues to work on convincing him to remain in WEC if he is unable to secure a Formula 1 seat.
My interest in motorsports has been a constant in my life, a passion that has led me to work in a variety of important events in this field. Among them are the World Rally Championship, Formula E, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Mexico and dirt track competitions.
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