Mick Schumacher, the 24-year-old reserve driver for Mercedes, stands a “good chance” of replacing Lewis Hamilton at the team when the seven-time F1 champion departs for Ferrari in 2025, according to Mick’s uncle, Ralf Schumacher.
Mercedes is now searching for a new driver after Hamilton triggered a release clause in his contract.
Despite Mercedes renewing Hamilton’s contract in August 2023 for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Hamilton decided to move to Ferrari after two winless seasons with Mercedes.
Mick Schumacher, who joined Mercedes in 2023 after his stint with Haas, is among the potential candidates to fill Hamilton’s seat. He won the Formula 2 title in 2020 and the European F3 title in 2018 but faced challenges during his time with Haas in 2022.
Ralf Schumacher believes Mick is one of the best young drivers and capable of stepping into Hamilton’s shoes at Mercedes.
Ralf Schumacher also mentioned George Russell as a viable option to lead the team after Hamilton’s departure. However, the decision may depend on whether team principal Toto Wolff believes Mick Schumacher is ready for the role.
Ralf expressed confidence in Mick’s abilities and the positive feedback he has received from Wolff.
Regarding his return to Formula 1, Mick Schumacher acknowledged that the active driver market could work in his favor, as many contracts expire after 2024.
He believes he has the skills and experience to compete at the highest level, citing his success in Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2. Mick emphasized his ability to handle pressure and expressed his determination to secure a Formula 1 seat for the upcoming season.
