How Mick Schumacher reacts to Alpine’s Formula 1 driver decision in favor of Jack Doohan and what it means for his future
Jack Doohan gets the second Alpine cockpit for the 2025 Formula 1 season, not Mick Schumacher. But Alpine apparently failed to inform Schumacher directly. When asked by Sky how he found out about the personnel decision, Schumacher simply said: “Instagram.” And when asked: “Yes, actually. ”
His uncle Ralf Schumacher is almost bursting at the seams. Also on Sky, the former Formula 1 driver explains that he finds it “very disappointing, to say the least” how Alpine has proceeded here, namely “without style”.
He had expected something different from the new Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore in particular, says Ralf Schumacher: “Obviously he has lost some of what he used to be. I think that’s a shame, because we’ve known each other long enough, for over 30 years.”
Briatore could at least have informed Mick Schumacher by phone. “At least once, [to say]: ‘You, it wasn’t enough. Or: ‘We have the priority on our own young driver’. That would all be fine [and] understandable, but that’s not how it was done,” says Ralf Schumacher.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also seems irritated. He says on Sky: “I think every team has a way of communicating, sometimes openly, sometimes less openly, sometimes transparently, sometimes less transparently, and perhaps we would have done it differently.”
Mick Schumacher takes it in his stride: it is “somehow understandable for him that Alpine has chosen this route”, says Mick Schumacher. “Jack was in the junior program. That’s probably why the link was there. “
Doohan vs. Schumacher at the test in Le Castellet
But Doohan was not always set to succeed Esteban Ocon: Alpine had the Australian compete against Alpine sports car works driver Mick Schumacher during a test day at Le Castellet in France to evaluate both under similar conditions.
How exactly did that work? “We actually had identical programs,” explains Mick Schumacher. “Of course, it’s difficult when you only have half a day. Especially because the conditions are very different with wind and sun. That’s why you can’t compare it one hundred percent, but you get a good idea of how the driver works. “
Mick Schumacher: Don’t need to prove anything anymore
Mick Schumacher says he went into this particular test with the same attitude as if it were a real Formula 1 race weekend. “So that they can really see what I can do, how I work. They actually know it from the WEC. “
In addition, he has already completed two full Formula 1 seasons at Haas. “And there you could actually see what I can do sometimes,” says Mick Schumacher. “The teams know how I work, especially internally, and you could also see that in the junior categories.”
Nevertheless, Mick Schumacher emphasizes that he is now looking ahead: “Ultimately, I’m not giving up from my side. There are still two seats open. So we have to keep working on it, keep stepping on the gas. For us, it means continuing to push, continuing to work and, yes, hopefully with a good result at the end of the year. “
Mick Schumacher: Sauber/Audi as last chance?
The two vacant cockpits mentioned are on the one hand at Mercedes, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli is practically set, and at Sauber, from which the new Audi works team will emerge in 2026. And at least at Sauber/Audi, Mick Schumacher is a candidate and says: “Of course, talks are ongoing, but nothing more than that.” All he can do now is “wait and see”.
“I think everyone is now taking a bit of time to analyze the situation really well in order to make the best decision or the best choice as far as the drivers are concerned. And I can only add my two cents and hope that it’s enough to get me the seat, so to speak. You know what I have and what I can do.”
Especially as Mick Schumacher was actually also convincing in the Alpine test against Doohan, as Ralf Schumacher says. His nephew was “clearly better” than the future Alpine driver, “especially on the long runs”.
“That means the experience he has is worth something for the teams, and in this case also for Audi. And you also have to see: There aren’t that many people with experience on the market anymore. And that’s why I think he has a good chance.”
Does Wolff see it the same way? He finds it “difficult to judge”, says the Mercedes team boss. “I also don’t know what Williams will do now after today’s debacle. But today is difficult. “