Alpine has confirmed Mick Schumacher will race in the 2024 World Endurance Championship(WEC) after signing a deal.
Mick Schumacher will be racing for the Alpine Hypercar team for the 2024 World Endurance Championship season; however, the German driver will still be associated with the Mercedes F1 team as he will serve as their reserve driver next season.
Alpine had already announced that it will field two Hypercars in the 2024 World Endurance Championship, with three confirmed drivers: Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Charles Milesi.
The team has now confirmed Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg and Mick Schumacher will round out the French team’s roster.
“A new chapter is beginning for me with Alpine in the FIA WEC Hypercar category,” Schumacher said. “The car is impressive, and I can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve grown up with single-seaters, so driving a car with a closed cockpit and covered wheels is a great opportunity to hone my driving skills.
“I sorely missed racing this year; it’s what I’ve loved to do since I was a kid, and it was sometimes difficult to watch the other drivers take to the track.
“Endurance racing is a new challenge for me, and I’m sure we will share great moments together next year with Alpine.”
According to Alpine vice president of motorsports Bruno Famin, Schumacher “will be a real asset” to the squad.
“We are absolutely delighted to have these six drivers,” Famin said. “And we hope they will all bring their own experience and qualities to the project, for example Charles with his youth, Nicolas with his experience in Endurance to mentor the younger drivers, and also Mick, with his experience gained at the highest level.
“It might be his first foray into Endurance, but his enthusiasm for the project and his will to join us are palpable. I’m sure he will be a real asset.”
For the time being, Mick Schumacher’s dreams of racing in Formula 1 once more in the coming season are dashed as the 24-year-old will now be racing in the World Endurance Championship.
The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher’s son raced for Haas for two seasons before Kevin Magnussen took his place this season. After all, Schumacher became a reserve driver for Mercedes and had made no secret of his intention to return to the racetrack in 2024.
Mercedes confirmed Schumacher will remain as their reserve driver alongside his new WEC commitments with Alpine.
“Delighted to confirm that Mick Schumacher will retain his reserve driver role with the team for 2024,” Mercedes confirmed in a statement.
“We’re excited to see Mick continue to contribute to our team alongside his new challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship.”
Schumacher added: “Happy and grateful to be a reserve driver for Mercedes next year. It is good to stay connected with this great team in F1.”
