08 February 2024 , 13:05
789
0
Mick Schumacher is "definitely" still focussed on a return to Formula 1 despite signing up for a season in the World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher raced in F1 for two years with Haas but lost his seat at the end of 2022. He spent last year on the sidelines as a Mercedes reserve and will continue in that role this term alongside his season in endurance racing.
The 24-year-old has signed up to the nascent Alpine hypercar programme. He will share the No.36 car with French duo Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxiviere and is set to make his debut at the famous 24hrs of Le Mans event in June.
Racing in WEC will help Schumacher to shake off any rust he has picked up during his time on the sidelines. But, speaking at Alpine's motorsport season launch event, he made it clear that his goal is a return to the F1 grid.
"My eye is definitely still pretty much on Formula 1," the German said. "Because there is now a lot of excitement in the driver market, it could be that one or two doors will open."
Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"
Given his affiliation with Mercedes, he has naturally been named as a potential successor to the F1 race seat soon to be vacated by Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion will leave the Silver Arrows at the end of the season to join Ferrari.
Schumacher was as surprised as anyone by the news - but refused to be drawn on the speculation that he could inherit the Briton's place. He said: "Obviously, it kind of hit everybody as a shock - and so it did to me.
"But on the other hand, everybody has to do what feels right to them. What is going to happen in the next year or weeks is still to be revealed and also for me. So I'm just excited to see what happens to see in the future.
"On that topic [of potentially replacing Hamilton], I didn't really think much. We're obviously here at Alpine for the launch of the car and what's going to come in the next, we will have to see."
Alongside Schumacher, early front-runners for the Mercedes seat include Alex Albon, who has captured the attention of many top teams with his performances for Williams, and Alpine racer Esteban Ocon whose career is still managed by the German carmaker.