Mick Schumacher to Depart Mercedes Reserve Driver Position

Mick Schumacher, who competed in Formula 1 for Haas during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, is set to conclude his tenure as Mercedes’ reserve driver at the close of the current season. The 25-year-old, recognized as the son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, has been affiliated with the team for a duration of two years. Mercedes brought the German driver into their fold after his departure from the US-based Haas organization, where he had spent two seasons. The reserve driver position at Mercedes is anticipated to be filled next year by Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas, who previously competed for the team from 2017 to 2021 and has recently been released by Sauber. Schumacher had expressed a desire to return to the F1 grid for the upcoming season, but his applications were declined by both the Sauber/Audi and Alpine teams. He has been participating in the world endurance championship with Alpine throughout 2024 and confirmed his intention to continue with them next year. Schumacher stated: “These two years have undoubtedly made me a more experienced racing driver because I have got to know the engineering side better.”But watching these cars race and not sitting in the cockpit myself is tough. I want to get back to focusing 100% on racing. I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport.”Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver, it is racing that gives you that feeling you love.” Mercedes had an available F1 seat for 2025, following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to transfer to Ferrari, but opted instead to promote their Italian protege, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team principal, commented: “Mick’s hard work, diligence, and determination in his role as reserve driver has been vital for the team over the past two years. From his work in the simulator, testing of various cars, and being part of the trackside team, we couldn’t have asked for any more from him.”