F1 Rumor: Step down to IndyCar option emerges for Schumacher (Update)

(GMM) This rumor is downgraded to ‘false’ today. Mick Schumacher has ruled out eyeing a move to IndyCar for now, even though a prominent former world champion doubts the 25-year-old German will return to F1 next year.

Schumacher this week said his return to the grid after a two-season absence was now “within reach”, following tests in 2024 with Mercedes, Alpine and McLaren.

The 2021-2022 Haas driver, now Mercedes’ F1 reserve and racing for Alpine’s WEC program, has also been linked with Williams – but his best chance appears to be at Alpine, where Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz are also contenders.

Schumacher thinks Sainz holds the key to the next phase of the ‘silly season’.

“His decision will affect everything because depending on where he goes, various seats will open or close,” the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher told the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

However, Jacques Villeneuve – who famously won his title in 1997 after a close and contentious clash with Mick’s father Michael – doubts the younger Schumacher will succeed.

“It seems that no team wants Mick Schumacher,” said the Canadian.

“Mick and his team have made a push, but no one seems to be rushing to get him on their team.”

Villeneuve, 53, thinks a major problem is that Schumacher’s former Haas boss Gunther Steiner ousted Mick after a sustained period of criticism of his performances in the cockpit.

“That’s worrying for the teams,” he said. “Do they want to take the risk of hoping that Mick is better than he was? At the moment it doesn’t look like that.”

Villeneuve thinks Schumacher’s best chance could be convincing team owner Audi to put a second German alongside Nico Hülkenberg at Sauber next year.

“If a team hires Mick as an F1 driver, it is because they want the Schumacher image,” he said. “It’s a risk that Audi could be willing to take.”

If a return to F1 doesn’t work out for Mick next year, he is declaring that staying in the Le Mans-centric World Endurance Championship is a good ‘plan B’.

Schumacher rules out IndyCar for now, despite recent rumors.

“I have never spoken to any IndyCar team,” he said. “I don’t know where that rumor comes from. I’m not thinking about it right now because it’s not my goal.

“My goal has always been Formula 1 and it will always remain Formula 1.”

(GMM) An option for Mick Schumacher to return to top-line open-wheel racing has emerged – a step-down to IndyCar.

As Mercedes’ reserve driver, and also with a racing role in Alpine’s WEC program, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has been trying to re-fire his F1 career since losing his Haas race seat in late 2022.

The German has been linked with Alpine’s F1 team and Williams for 2025, but many insiders rate his chances as low.

However, at the Indy 500 last weekend, IndyCar team owner Dale Coyne revealed that he has been in touch with Schumacher, 25, about a race seat.

“There are all these Formula 2 drivers who finish first or second but have no real future in Formula 1,” Coyne told Auto Motor und Sport. “Mick Schumacher is a perfect example.

[Editor’s Note: There are two types 1) F1 Wanna Bees who want to be in F1 but never make it, and 2) F1 rejects that eye IndyCar after being rejected out of F1. As a former F1 driver, Schumacher falls in category 2 – he was rejected out. Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden falls into category 1 – he made it up the F1 ladder but never was good enough to make the final step-up to F1 – i.e. he is an F1 Wanna Bee]

“We would love to welcome such a great driver here.”

Correspondent Philipp Korner also explains: “Next year’s (IndyCar) newcomer Prema is also said to be interested.”

Schumacher won both his Formula 3 (2018) and Formula 2 (2020) titles with Prema, an Italian racing organization with links to Ferrari.

Coyne, however, thinks Schumacher might have other plans.

“We are talking to Mick Schumacher,” he revealed. “But he is still pinning his hopes on Alpine. I would be happy if we were given the chance.”

Correspondent Korner thinks Jack Doohan and Victor Martins – products of Alpine’s own junior program – are further up the queue than Schumacher for an F1 seat next year.

“Other drivers are also currently higher on the list at Haas, Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso (RB),” he added.

Schumacher is quoted as saying: “My dream is of course to drive in Formula 1. It has always been like that, and it always will be like that.”