F1 News
Official: Mick Schumacher will leave Mercedes after 2024
Mercedes has confirmed Mick Schumacher will leave his role as reserve driver at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season. The former Haas driver has decided to pursue other opportunities which will allow him to focus more on racing.
Schumacher left Haas at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season and couldn't secure a seat on the grid elsewhere for the 2023 season. The German driver found a place at Mercedes as the reserve driver, and he has held that role for two full seasons in F1.
Mercedes reports that Schumacher provided valuable on-track feedback during various tests and races. In the past season, he competed for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship, scoring the manufacturer's maiden podium in Fuji, Japan.
Why Schumacher has decided to leave Mercedes
"I am grateful to Toto and the entire Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for the insight I have gained over these two years. They 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," Schumacher said.
Team boss Toto Wolff wished him well for the future. "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. From day one, he fitted into the team with ease and has become an incredibly well-liked colleague for everyone at Brackley and Brixworth," he added.
"However, Mick is first and foremost a racing driver. We have seen from both his time in F1, and this year with his performances in the World Endurance Championship, that he is a racer of an incredibly high calibre and one that deserves to be competing in the very best championships. As he moves on to his next challenge, I would like to thank Mick personally for his contribution to our team and we all wish him the very best in his future endeavours."
It is no secret that Mercedes is keen to bring Valtteri Bottas as a reserve driver. Now that Schumacher will be leaving the team, the door seems to have been opened for the Finn's arrival. When asked, Mercedes informed GPblog that no announcement is planned or in the works.
Schumacher will continue as reserve driver at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix and next weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed what Schumacher will do next season. The WEC team Alpine has announced that Michael Schumacher's son will be with the team again next season.