Mick Schumacher will embark on a brand new problem in 2024 as he tackles the World Endurance Championship with Alpine, however the German has made clear that returning to F1 sooner or later stays his final aim.
Schumacher raced in F1 for Haas in 2021 and 2022 however misplaced his seat to Nico Hulkenberg for the 2023 marketing campaign, the place he as an alternative spent a yr on the sidelines performing as Mercedes’ reserve driver.
READ MORE: Mick Schumacher makes change to endurance racing with Alpine after ‘troublesome’ yr on the sidelines
With all 10 F1 groups choosing unchanged driver line-ups over the winter, Schumacher has as an alternative struck a deal to drive Alpine’s new hypercar – a transfer that may take him away from single-seater competitors for the primary time.
Ultimately yr’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Schumacher took a while out to talk to the media, the place he mirrored on the previous 12 months and set out his pondering for the long run.
Requested how he feels after processing the lack of his F1 race seat, and put to him that he doesn’t appear to be holding a grudge, Schumacher stated: “I imply, it does embody a number of hair pulling and tearing, and I really feel such as you don’t actually see that.
“Clearly, that is the primary media desk that I’ve executed this yr [and] that exhibits lots and says lots in that sense, however F1 has all the time been a dream and it’ll all the time stay the dream.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’ve to show I nonetheless deserve an opportunity in F1’ – Mick Schumacher on shedding his Haas seat, and his plan to get again on the grid
“Once more, there isn’t a cause to remain right here, not race, fall behind all people… I might moderately go on the market, discover one thing to race and develop my expertise. Ultimately, if that results in no approach again into F1 however results in one other profession, then I’m completely satisfied to try this.”
Schumacher will proceed to behave as Mercedes’ reserve driver alongside his new WEC duties and the 24-year-old made clear that he has taken some precious classes from working alongside Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
“I assume the largest level for me to elaborate on [is] I do know as a driver now rather more what I would like from my crew round me, from what I really feel like I’m value and what I can carry to a crew,” he commented.
“Clearly going into my first yr in F1 it was sort of exhausting to know precisely what my place must be, and the way far can I am going with my feedback and every thing.
READ MORE: Schumacher reveals the important thing lesson realized from Hamilton and Russell after yr with Mercedes
“Having labored with Lewis and George for one yr now, I sort of know the way excessive the bar is ready and the way far I can go, and I’ve no downside sharing my info sooner or later.”
Schumacher has been praised by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for his “super contribution” within the simulator thus far, with the Austrian arguing that he “deserves to be on the grid” once more going ahead.