Schumacher linked with Alpine seat as F1 comeback looms

The likelihood of Mick Schumacher making a comeback to the Formula 1 grid with Alpine is on the rise.

After being ousted by Haas at the close of 2022, the 25-year-old progeny of F1 icon Michael Schumacher has balanced his testing and reserve roles at Mercedes with his participation in Alpine's hypercar and Le Mans effort for the world endurance championship in 2024.

In response to the new speculation regarding his F1 future, during the most recent endurance event at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, Schumacher stated, "I'm monitoring the situation and can't say any more."

Before heading to Spa, Schumacher's schedule included an outing at Silverstone last week, where he drove a 2022 Mercedes alongside Toto Wolff's emerging talent, Kimi Antonelli. It is reported that he completed more than a grand prix race distance, though Mercedes remains tight-lipped about the specifics of his lap times.

Ralf Schumacher, Mick's uncle, expressed optimism about his nephew's F1 prospects, remarking, "I believe Mick deserves a place in F1, especially when you compare him with some other drivers."

Alpine appears to be Schumacher's best shot for a 2024 F1 seat, given his solid rapport with Alpine executive Bruno Famin. With Alpine currently navigating a performance downturn in F1, Famin might face the departure of his current racing duo in 2025.

Wolff, handling the careers of both 17-year-old Antonelli and Esteban Ocon, is thought to be advocating for Ocon's transfer to the Mercedes-affiliated Williams team in 2025 and onwards, potentially freeing up a crucial spot at Alpine. It's important to note, however, that Alpine F1 reserve Jack Doohan is also in the running for a seat next season.

According to Auto Bild, Alpine is considering giving Schumacher a trial in a two-year-old F1 car in the coming weeks.

The report also highlights Renault CEO Luca de Meo's interest in integrating Schumacher into Alpine's F1 efforts "for marketing reasons," particularly considering the importance of the German auto market to the French brand.

In an interview at Spa last weekend, Mick Schumacher affirmed his ambitions, saying, "It is still my goal to return to Formula 1."

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