has determined to go away his function as a reserve driver on the finish of the 2024 season.
The 25-year-old German, son of seven-time F1 world champion , was dropped by on the after a two-year run however within the two years since has been an understudy for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on the Silver Arrows.
Nevertheless, having not appeared as soon as on an F1 weekend and for 2025, Schumacher has determined to go away the workforce and discover new alternatives after what he described as a “powerful” two years watching within the storage.
Schumacher stated: “I’m grateful to Toto [Wolff] and the whole Mercedes F1 workforce for the perception I’ve gained over these two years, they’ve undoubtedly made me a extra skilled racing driver as a result of I’ve bought to know the engineering aspect higher.
“However watching these automobiles race and never sitting within the cockpit myself is hard. I need to get again to focusing 100% on racing. I need to be absolutely dedicated to the sporting aspect of motorsport.
“Finally, it’s racing that you just need to do as a driver, it’s racing that offers you that feeling you’re keen on.”
Schumacher was closely linked with the second seat at Sauber subsequent 12 months however present F2 championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto landed that seat.
The German instructed The Impartial that he was “actually hungry” to carve a route again into F1 as a primary selection over different motorsport competitions.
But Schumacher did compete for Alpine within the World Endurance Championship (WEC) this 12 months and raced on the well-known 24 Hours of Le Mans occasion.
A full WEC season appears Schumacher’s more than likely subsequent transfer in motorsport, although he might additionally pursue a spot in IndyCar in the USA.
Mercedes workforce principal Wolff added: “Mick’s exhausting work, diligence, and willpower in his function as reserve driver has been very important for the workforce over the previous two years.
“From his work within the simulator, testing of varied automobiles, and being a part of the trackside workforce, we couldn’t have requested for any extra from him. From day one, he fitted into the workforce with ease and has change into an extremely well-liked colleague for everybody at Brackley and Brixworth.
“Nevertheless, Mick is in the beginning a racing driver. We have now seen from each his time in F1, and this 12 months together with his performances within the World Endurance Championship, that he’s a racer of an extremely excessive calibre and one which deserves to be competing in the easiest championships.
“As he strikes on to his subsequent problem, I wish to thank Mick personally for his contribution to our workforce and all of us want him the easiest in his future endeavours.”
Mercedes are set to deliver again Valtteri Bottas to behave as their reserve driver subsequent 12 months, after the Finn was dropped from his seat at Sauber. Bottas drove for the workforce from 2017-2021 earlier than being changed by George Russell.
Schumacher has already been confirmed in Sydney subsequent March, competing alongside compatriot Sebastian Vettel.
