Mick Schumacher: German to leave his role as Mercedes reserve driver
Mick Schumacher will step down as Mercedes reserve driver at the end of this season.
The 25-year-old driver, the son of seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, has been with the team for two years.
The German was sacked after two seasons with the American team Haas and Mercedes replaced him.
Schumacher had hoped to return to the F1 track next season, but was rejected by Sauber/Audi and Alpine teams.
He has been representing Alpine in the 2024 World Endurance Championship and said he will continue to drive for them next year.
Schumacher said: “These two years have definitely made me a more experienced racing driver because I have a better understanding of the engineering side.
“But it’s difficult to watch these racing cars and not be in the cockpit. I want to get back to being 100 percent focused on racing. I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport.
“Ultimately, as a driver, what you want to do is race cars that give you the feeling you love.”
Mercedes have secured an F1 seat for 2025 following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to switch to Ferrari, but prefer to promote their Italian protégé Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff said: “Mick’s hard work, diligence and determination as a reserve driver have been crucial to the team over the past two years. From his time in the simulator to Work, testing on various cars and being part of a track team, we couldn’t ask for more from him.
