Mick Schumacher does well at the Alpine test with Jack Doohan – but his biggest rival for the Formula 1 cockpit is not present in Le Castellet
Like the French national team at the European Football Championship in Germany, Mick Schumacher has also come through his “shootout” well – and is still in the race. But while the footballers continue to fight for the European Championship trophy after the penalty shootout against Portugal, Schumacher is competing for a cockpit with the French national Formula 1 team for 2025
The German is still a long way from reaching his goal, because the competition is still fierce for the 25-year-old: Schumacher was allowed to test for Alpine, for whom the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher also competes in the World Sports Car Championship, at Le Castellet in France on Wednesday afternoon.
Also on site: Alpine junior Jack Doohan, who was not only allowed to take part in the first practice session for the British Grand Prix in Silverstone on Friday, but was also given the morning in Le Castellet by Alpine on Wednesday, before Schumacher’s departure.
Team Principal Bruno Famin told Sky afterwards that he was satisfied with the performance of his drivers: “The test went well for both of them, to be honest,” explained the Frenchman in Silverstone, and also revealed: “Both had a fairly similar program and both did very well. That’s great for both of them. “
As usual in a private test, Alpine does not publish any times. However, Famin does make one admission – namely that both drivers are still in the running for the second Alpine cockpit for 2025. Regular driver Pierre Gasly recently extended his contract, while Esteban Ocon is leaving the racing team.
“They are both on the list,” explains Famin about Schumacher and Doohan, but also admits: “The list is still quite long.” According to the French team boss, there are still “more than three names” on it. One thing is clear: this includes Carlos Sainz, the current king of the Formula 1 driver market.
After flirtations with Audi-Sauber and Williams, Alpine’s new special advisor Flavio Briatore has recently been making eyes at the Spaniard and is trying to convince the current Ferrari driver to switch to his former French team. If Sainz is indeed persuaded by this, the test of Doohan and Schumacher, despite all the positive performances, is likely to become a race for the golden pineapple in retrospect …
