Source – Planet Sport
Alpine announced that Mick Schumacher will remain with the team in the 2025 World Endurance Championship after Mercedes confirmed that he will leave his position as a reserve driver at the end of this year.
Mick Schumacher, the talented son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, has officially solidified his future in motorsport by re-signing with Alpine for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). This marks a pivotal moment in Schumacher’s career as he transitions from balancing multiple roles in Formula 1 and endurance racing to focusing entirely on the sporting side of motorsport. His decision to remain with Alpine comes after a season of impressive performances and signals his commitment to making a lasting mark in endurance racing.
Schumacher joined Alpine for their maiden endurance campaign in 2024, combining his driving duties with his role as reserve driver for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team. This dual commitment allowed the German driver to stay close to the F1 paddock while honing his skills in the grueling endurance racing format. However, despite his efforts to keep the F1 dream alive, doors to the 2025 Formula 1 grid closed as Mercedes, Alpine, and Audi all opted for rookie drivers to fill their seats.
The final blow came when Audi chose Gabriel Bortoleto to partner with Nico Hulkenberg for their 2025 Formula 1 lineup, leaving Schumacher without a clear path back to the pinnacle of motorsport. This prompted Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko to advise Schumacher to focus fully on his WEC career. Marko’s words carried weight, as he urged the 25-year-old to pursue a path where his talent could truly shine and where victories were within reach. “He should focus on endurance racing, where he has been very successful, and continue down that path,” Marko remarked.
Taking this advice to heart, Schumacher has committed to Alpine’s WEC team for 2025, a decision that aligns with his desire to return to full-time racing. Alpine confirmed the news in a celebratory social media post, unveiling their six-driver lineup for the upcoming season. Schumacher will join Ferdinand Habsburg, Jules Gounon, Charles Milesi, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Frédéric Makowiecki behind the wheel of the A425, a car designed to push boundaries in endurance racing.
For Schumacher, this continuation with Alpine is more than a mere contract extension; it is a validation of his efforts and a sign of the trust the team places in his abilities. His performances during the 2024 season helped Alpine achieve a commendable fourth place in the World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship, a significant accomplishment for a team in its debut season. Reflecting on the season, Schumacher said, “This result sees us clinch fourth place in the championship, which was our target when we came to Bahrain. The pace was there, even though we had to deal with damage to the #36 car. Our sister car was also up to the job and secured a good result. The whole team can be satisfied with this result, and now let’s see what the future holds.”
The announcement of his Alpine extension came just moments after Schumacher confirmed his departure from Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season. Despite gaining invaluable insights into the engineering and technical aspects of Formula 1 during his reserve driver stint, Schumacher admitted that the lack of full-time racing was taking its toll. “Watching these cars race and not sitting in the cockpit myself is tough,” he confessed. “I want to get back to focusing 100 per cent on racing. Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver; it is racing that gives you that feeling you love.”
With his Alpine commitment now sealed, Schumacher can fully immerse himself in the 2025 WEC season. The championship kicks off with the Prologue at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, followed by the Qatar 1812 km race from February 21 to 28, 2025. This new chapter offers Schumacher a platform to showcase his racing pedigree and further establish himself as a formidable competitor in endurance racing.
As he looks ahead, Schumacher’s decision to remain with Alpine reflects not only his adaptability as a driver but also his determination to excel in a challenging and competitive environment. With his name now firmly etched into the WEC roster for 2025, the German driver is poised to continue writing his story in motorsport, one lap at a time. For fans and followers of Schumacher’s journey, this is a chance to witness the evolution of a driver who is carving his own path while honoring the legacy of his legendary family name.
