Mick Schumacher Steps Down from Reserve Driver Role to Pursue Other Opportunities

Mercedes Formula 1 team announced on Thursday that German driver Mick Schumacher will step down from his role as a reserve driver at the end of the season to seek opportunities with other teams.

Mick, 25, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, has served as a reserve driver for the past two years after losing his seat at Haas. This year, he also participated with the Alpine team in the World Endurance Championship.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, stated: “Through his work on the simulator and testing multiple cars, we couldn’t have asked for more from him. However, Mick is primarily a racing driver.”

Wolff added: “We’ve seen through his time in Formula 1, and this year with his performance in the World Endurance Championship, that he is a top-class driver who deserves to compete in the best championships out there.”

Mick Schumacher expressed that Mercedes helped him become a more experienced racing driver and gain a better understanding of the engineering side of the sport.

He said: “Watching these cars race and not being in the cockpit myself is hard. I want to return to focusing 100% on racing. I want to fully commit to the motorsport side of things.”

Schumacher emphasized that competing in races is every driver’s ultimate ambition, as it gives them the feeling they love.

Mick did not reveal any details about his future plans.

Meanwhile, Mercedes has been linked with their former driver Valtteri Bottas, who will leave Sauber at the end of the year to possibly work as a future reserve driver.