Emerging details hint at a ‘Plan B’ for Mick Schumacher in 2024.
A report from the German-language magazine, Motorsport Aktuell, suggests that the former Haas driver and current Mercedes backup is deep in conversation with Renault’s Alpine.
Though Alpine is known for its Formula 1 team, there’s speculation that the German driver, Schumacher, aged 24, is being eyed to drive the French automaker’s upcoming Hypercar in Le Mans the following year.
Bruno Famin, Alpine’s recent interim F1 team leader, is rumoured to have contacted Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, regarding a trial in this new Hypercar soon.
Meanwhile, another chance for Schumacher to re-enter the F1 circuit seems to have closed, as Alfa Romeo-Sauber recently penned a new agreement with Guanyu Zhou. Despite Zhou’s hope for a longer-term commitment, the deal has been confirmed only for the upcoming year.
“It’s settled for next year,” Zhou commented in Singapore. “So I’m secured in 2024, and after that, how the team shifts towards another project (Audi) will be determined the following year to keep options flexible.”
There’s talk about Schumacher potentially joining Williams, but insiders feel that the Oxfordshire-based squad is leaning towards keeping American newcomer Logan Sargeant.
“Alex (Albon) is here for the long haul, that’s for sure,” said team leader James Vowles. “As for Logan, he’s progressing well; he just has to maintain his momentum race after race.”
Regarding Alpha Tauri, current gossip hints that Yuki Tsunoda might be reassigned to a backup position at Red Bull next season, especially since Liam Lawson has stood out while covering for the injured Daniel Ricciardo.
“Right now, it’s race by race,” New Zealander Lawson, 21, said in Singapore.
“But I think now that I’ve had a taste, it’s definitely something I’ve fallen in love with. And I don’t think I can settle for anything less.”
