George Russell will have a new teammate at Mercedes in 2025, as Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari.
Mercedes is on the hunt for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton in the upcoming season, while Mick Schumacher emphasizes his focus on Formula 1.
Just two weeks ago, Mercedes believed they had their driver lineup settled for the 2024 and 2025 seasons after re-signing Hamilton and George Russell in August.
However, during a breakfast meeting last Wednesday, Hamilton surprised team principal Toto Wolff by announcing his departure at the end of the current season.
Subsequently, Mercedes confirmed the rumors that Hamilton would be joining Ferrari for the next season under a multi-year agreement.
The race to fill Hamilton’s position has already begun. While Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are reportedly the top contenders, F1 analysts also mention Schumacher as a potential candidate due to his association with Mercedes as their official reserve driver.
Schumacher, who will be competing in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine this season alongside his Mercedes commitments, expresses his desire to return to the F1 grid but acknowledges that it’s still early days.
Speaking at the Alpine A524 launch, he said, “Obviously, it came as a shock to everyone – including myself. But at the same time, everyone has to do what feels right to them.
“What will happen in the coming year or weeks is still unknown, even for me. So I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
He continued, “I’m still very much focused on Formula 1. With the driver market heating up, there may be opportunities that arise.”
When asked about the possibility of taking the Mercedes seat next year, he didn’t provide a direct response, stating, “I haven’t really thought much about that topic. We’re here at Alpine for the car launch, and we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.”
Although Schumacher initially aimed to continue in Formula 1 after leaving Haas at the end of the 2022 season, his role as Mercedes reserve driver has led him to consider other options.
He reveals discussions with Alpine’s vice president, Bruno Famin, as early as 2023, which eventually led to his involvement in Alpine’s World Endurance Championship program for 2024.
Reflecting on his decision, Schumacher expresses excitement for the upcoming season, saying, “It reignited my passion for racing, and I’m happy to be here. I guess the feeling is mutual.”
According to the Source formula1news.co.uk