Mick Schumacher will test with Alpine ahead of WEC’s upcoming season, as the French team selects its driver line-up for 2024.
There have been plenty of reports about Schumacher’s next step in motorsport. After losing out to Nico Hulkenberg for the 2023 Haas seat, the 24-year-old was occasionally mentioned as a player in this year’s driver market.
However, with only one vacant seat at Williams available, opportunities in F1 have closed. Subsequently, the German has been linked to an Alpine seat in next year’s World Endurance Championship.
Reports first circulated about this potential partnership several months ago, and they have been validated in recent weeks.
Alpine’s interim Team Principal, Bruno Famin, has spoken about the team discussions with Schumacher:
“It would be a good opportunity for both parties, I think. But for the time being, we are just talking, and hopefully, we will organise a test soon.”
These quotes were from late September, and since then, Alpine has indeed organised a test for the 24-year-old. Motorsport-magazin reports the session will take place today at the Jerez circuit.
Other drivers will also attend today’s test event, so it will be essential for Schumacher to outperform the other drivers present.
For most of 2023, Toto Wolff has been singing the praises of Mick Schumacher’s work for Mercedes in the simulator.
The Mercedes team principal has also played an active role in trying to persuade others to sign the young driver.
No resistance can be expected from Mercedes if the former Haas driver wants to compete in WEC.
Ideally, the 24-year-old will be able to maintain his role as a simulator driver in Brackley whilst racing in WEC. However, it is unclear if Alpine will be equally flexible about the former Haas driver’s other commitments.
With more big names set to compete in WEC and Le Mans next year, Schumacher will have an opportunity to make a name for himself beyond F1.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
