Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes a stint in the World Endurance Championship might help Mick Schumacher return to a Formula 1 race seat in future.
Schumacher (pictured at right, above, with Wolff and Mercedes driver development director Jerome d’Ambrosio) was dropped by Haas after two seasons with the team in 2021 and ’22, taking on a role as Mercedes reserve driver last year. With no movement in the F1 driver market this winter, Schumacher has secured a race seat with Alpine as it enters a Hypercar in the WEC, and Wolff thinks it could be beneficial to any future F1 hopes for the German.
“Mick is a good driver and deserves to be in F1,” Wolff said. “Sadly, there isn’t any place free at present. Mick going into WEC, which is a world championship with a constructor like Alpine, is a very good opportunity for him. I believe he’s going to do a perfect job and it keeps him sharp racing and possibly help him come back into Formula 1.”
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While Schumacher admits it has been frustrating being on the sidelines this year, he will now get to race alongside his Mercedes role and he says he’s keen to further his development as the team looks to return to competitiveness.
“As a team, we win and lose together and when things are difficult, you definitely feel that,” Schumacher said. “All I want to do is help the team to success and we all worked very hard to try and get the car back up to speed. Especially now with the W15 already in the works, we all are 100% focused on trying to have a successful 2024.
“It’s a great opportunity to stay with the team for next year as the reserve driver and keep on learning, keep building on what we’ve achieved this year. I think we’re all very keen to get started and on track with the W15, so it will be very nice to be part of that process.
“I can also continue to build on all the relationships with the team. It’s been good to spend so much time with everyone and get to know also, the people who have been here when my dad was. It’s a very special team and a very special bond that they have.”