Mick Schumacher says he’s holding his choices open for subsequent yr, regardless of having proven a transparent inclination in the direction of returning to single-seaters after two seasons within the World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher’s future has been a topic of intense hypothesis over the previous few months, notably following his maiden IndyCar check with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in October.
The German has been racing within the WEC’s Hypercar class with Alpine for the reason that begin of final yr, having misplaced his Haas System 1 seat on the finish of 2022. However he has all the time maintained that he prefers driving single-seaters over prototype sportscars, making IndyCar an interesting choice for him.
Talking ultimately weekend’s Bahrain finale, Schumacher insisted he has but to finalise his programme for 2026, however didn’t rule out the prospect of continuous within the WEC for a 3rd marketing campaign.
“The plan continues to be open. After all, it’s no secret that I actually take pleasure in single-seaters, however I’m holding an open thoughts concerning the future,” the 26-year-old advised Motorsport.com.
“I’m looking for out what excites me most. Endurance racing is unquestionably fascinating, and it’s nice to be pushing flat-out once more.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Crew Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Frederic Makowiecki, Mick Schumacher, #35 Alpine Endurance Crew Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi
Picture by: James Moy Images by way of Getty Photos
Schumacher was in rivalry for a reserve function at Cadillac’s new F1 staff for 2026 as a part of a twin programme that will have additionally seen him race for its manufacturing unit Jota squad within the WEC. However the cope with the GM model collapsed in the course of the summer time break, ending any short-term hopes of an F1 return.
Alpine stays eager to retain Schumacher as a part of its driver line-up within the WEC, citing each sporting and business causes for persevering with its affiliation with him.
Throughout his two seasons with the French squad within the WEC, Schumacher claimed three podiums in Hypercar, together with two initially of 2025 within the build-up to the Le Mans 24 Hours.
However chatting with Motorsport.com in Bahrain, staff principal Phillipe Sinault made it clear that Alpine can’t wait too lengthy for him to finalise his plans, saying “it’s time” for him to resolve his future in WEC.
Requested if he had set himself a deadline for 2026, Schumacher solely mentioned “most likely across the begin of subsequent season”, with out specifying which sequence he was referring to.
Transfer to the US?
For a lot of drivers from outdoors the US, a full-time seat in IndyCar typically means relocating or basing themselves in America. Sebastien Bourdais, for example, utilized for a inexperienced card for himself and his household after a number of years within the sequence.
Requested if such a transfer can be an choice for him: “It might be, however I wouldn’t essentially need to relocate completely. It depends upon what the programme seems like.”
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