Mick Schumacher coy on Mercedes F1 chances but “excited to see what happens”

Mick Schumacher has admitted he’s “excited to see what happens” following Lewis Hamilton’s shock decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari.

Schumacher has been Mercedes’ official test and reserve driver since getting dropped by Haas at the end of 2022.

Unable to find a spot on the grid for 2024, Schumacher has made the move to the World Endurance Championship.

The German has expressed his desire to return to F1 in 2025, if an opportunity arises.

Speaking at the launch of Alpine’s motorsport programme for 2024, where they unveiled their new F1 car and Hypercar, Schumacher gave his reaction to Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes and what it might mean for his own future.

“Obviously it kind of hit everybody as a shock – and so it did to me,” he said.

“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.”

Schumacher will spearhead Alpine’s Hypercar challenge in WEC, with the new season kicking off later this month in Qatar.

It sees Schumacher join ‘Team Enstone’ - effectively the same team where his father, Michael Schumacher, won his first two world witles with Benetton.

He described it as a “special feeling” to be part of the Alpine family.

“Because obviously my dad has raced here and won his first championships with Benetton with a Renault engine,” Schumacher added.

“So it’s an interesting kind of path because kind of feels like I’ve made all the steps that he has done in motorsport.”