As the 2025 Formula 1 season rapidly approaches, with the Australian Grand Prix kicking off on March 16, fans are eagerly awaiting the start of a new era in the sport. For the first time since 2019, the season opener in Melbourne will see numerous drivers debuting with new teams, and none are as highly anticipated as Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. This change has dominated the headlines, but Hamilton’s transfer is just one piece of a larger puzzle in a highly active 2024 F1 driver market. Red Bull has introduced Liam Lawson into their lineup, Mercedes has brought rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace Hamilton, and Ferrari has parted ways with Carlos Sainz, who has moved to Williams.

Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher, has weighed in on the growing power struggle within Ferrari between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Schumacher admits that it is impossible to predict who will come out on top in this internal rivalry. The tension between Hamilton and Leclerc is expected to be one of the most compelling stories of the season. Schumacher also expressed that it still feels somewhat strange to see Hamilton in Ferrari red, reflecting how significant and unexpected this change truly is.

The Briton, now 40 years old, has said he is still “pinching himself” over the opportunity to race for Ferrari, a team he has admired throughout his career. For him, this marks the fulfillment of a childhood dream, one that he has long held since his early days in F1. After spending a decade with Mercedes, where he secured seven world championships, Hamilton now faces the challenge of continuing his championship pursuit with Ferrari, a team that has not won a drivers’ title since 2007.

The internal battle at Ferrari between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is sure to provide plenty of drama in 2025. The Briton is vying for his eighth championship, but doing so while competing against his new Maranello teammate, one of F1’s fastest qualifiers, will be a massive challenge. As both drivers vie for supremacy within the team, the dynamics at Maranello will be closely watched, and many are eager to see how this rivalry unfolds throughout the season.

Mick Schumacher remarked to Speedweek that it was unusual to see Hamilton in Ferrari red, but he hoped that Hamilton would enjoy himself and feel comfortable in the new environment. He also mentioned that the internal rivalry within the team against Charles Leclerc would be particularly interesting. Regarding who might come out on top, the former Ferrari junior admitted that it was difficult to predict from the outside and expressed that he was rooting for both drivers.

Lewis Hamilton Faces Tough Odds in Pursuit of Eighth F1 Title with Ferrari in 2025

Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari marks the fulfillment of a dream long held by both himself and Mick Schumacher, whose father, Michael Schumacher, became a legend at Maranello between 1996 and 2006. Now, Hamilton hopes to replicate even a fraction of the German icon’s immense success as he embarks on his mission to secure a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 drivers’ championship.

Michael Schumacher remains one of the most dominant figures in F1 history, having secured five of his seven world titles with Ferrari. He also holds the distinction of being the only driver to win five consecutive championships, a streak he achieved between 2000 and 2004. However, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has the opportunity to match this extraordinary feat in 2025. Hamilton himself enjoyed a dominant run with Mercedes, clinching four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020, but he now faces an entirely new challenge in red.

Despite the excitement surrounding Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has tempered expectations by ranking the Scuderia behind both McLaren and Red Bull in his early assessment following pre-season testing in Bahrain. This suggests that Ferrari may not yet have the performance needed to challenge for the title, adding another hurdle to Hamilton’s ambitious goal.

Beyond Ferrari’s competitiveness, Hamilton must also contend with a formidable internal rival in Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver has been deeply embedded in Ferrari’s system since joining their academy in 2016 and has led the team’s charge in F1 since 2019. His established presence and natural speed make him a serious contender within the team, ensuring that Hamilton’s road to an eighth championship will be anything but straightforward.

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The season opener

The 1812 km of Qatar, which marked the start of the 2025 WEC season, also opened a new chapter in Mick Schumacher’s career, as he was confirmed as an official Alpine driver. Finishing 13th alongside teammates Frédéric Makowiecki and Charles Milesi, the German, son of the legendary Michael Schumacher, began the season outside the points, just months after his departure from the world of Formula 1.

Dreams never abandoned

Mercedes ended its relationship with the 25-year-old, who had served as a reserve and test driver for the Brackley-based team, with additional roles at McLaren and Williams. After two difficult seasons at Haas, Schumacher now faces the WEC challenge, but his primary goal remains an F1 return: “Formula 1 will always be part of my life,” he told Bild am Sonntag. “I decided at the age of eleven that I wanted to race there. That is still my goal—this category was and remains the dream of my life. I still have unfinished business with Formula 1 and want to prove my worth once again. When I look at the current grid, I have no doubt that I could keep up—I am no less capable than anyone else. It would be great if I had another opportunity to prove it, because I think many people have wrongly labeled me.”

Mika Hakkinen’s support

But could Schumacher really get another shot at F1? According to former driver Mika Hakkinen, who was a fierce rival of Mick’s father in the late 1990s and early 2000s, opportunities still exist: “I still see a chance for Mick to return to Formula 1. That door remains open. He just needs to talk to the right people,” the two-time world champion explained. “Mick has gained experience in Formula 1 and now in other motorsport categories as well. Plus, he is still young. These are all positive factors, but he has had some crashes that have hurt his career. If you make mistakes and damage your car, it costs the team a lot, especially with the cost cap in place. That’s why teams don’t like it at all.”

No more compromises

Mick Schumacher himself addressed the issue of crashes and damage: “My reputation was shaped more by negative public comments about me rather than my actual abilities. I was labeled as an accident-prone driver,” he said, referring to his time at Haas. “It’s true, but people don’t realize that our car was designed that way. Due to a lack of fixed structural points, it was meant to break apart in the event of a side impact. Other cars would have remained intact. I didn’t speak up at the time because I didn’t want to create further tension within the team. I was insecure and didn’t push back because I was shy. But in the end, to achieve results, you need self-confidence and support. Today, I would fight more. I have matured as a person and would no longer be so quick to say ‘everything is fine.’ Instead, I would stand my ground internally, without compromises. I had to go through this growth process to become who I am today.” – he concluded.

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Schumacher accepted a reserve role, first with Mercedes and then with Alpine, hoping to find an opening to return to the grid. The right opportunity has yet to come, and at nearly 26 years old, he risks being permanently left out. However, he still holds on to the hope of making a comeback.

Mick Schumacher’s comments

“Formula 1 will always be part of my life. At the age of 11, I decided I wanted to race there, and that remains my goal—it was and still is the dream of my life. I have unfinished business with F1 and want to prove my worth once again,” Schumacher told *Speedweek.* “With the current grid, I can keep up, I have no doubts. I’m not inferior to anyone, and it would be great if I had another chance to show it.” – the former Ferrari junior pointed out.

“I think many people have labeled me unfairly based on my crashes and negative comments about me. I was insecure, I didn’t fight because I was shy. But in the end, you need self-confidence and support. Today, I would fight more. I’ve matured as a person, and I wouldn’t be so quick to say everything is fine—I would stand my ground internally without compromise.”

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There is no space for Mick Schumacher in 2025, as he will turn 26 in March. The Formula 1 grid prefers to give opportunities to young talents rather than bringing back former drivers.

“My dream is my dream,” the German admitted during a press conference organized by Alpine, the team he races for in Endurance. “But when I’m in the car, I am 100 percent focused. That means that when I am in the WEC environment and racing, my thoughts are fully there – in the simulator, in meetings, in everything,” said the former Formula 1 driver to journalists, including RTL/ntv and sport.de, also emphasizing his commitment to endurance racing.

However, his thoughts are always on F1, which remains present “in the moments when I am free.”

Starting this year, Schumi Jr. will no longer have the dual role of WEC driver and F1 reserve driver. This will allow him to focus more on his endurance career, as he admitted when speaking about last season: “It was a very tough year. We had many consecutive weekends where we jumped from one race to another,” he said, referring mainly to the full F1 calendar.

“Even though you could say that a reserve driver doesn’t do much, the days are still long,” Mick Schumacher pointed out. “By the end of the year, I was already relatively tired.” – the former Ferrari Driver Academy member pointed out.

From 2025, Mick Schumacher is more relaxed, and the days of “doing things halfway” are over. “I can simply take the time to drive more in the simulator and help Alpine more with car development,” he concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale

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At the same time, Mercedes will no longer have the same reserve driver who remained with the team until last month: the Brackley outfit has welcomed back a former driver, Valtteri Bottas, while bidding farewell to Mick Schumacher. The son of another seven-time world champion, Michael, has definitively abandoned any hope of returning to Formula 1, due to both Antonelli’s promotion and the arrivals of two other rookies, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan, who have taken the only two remaining seats at Sauber and Alpine, respectively.

Toto Wolff agrees
As a result, after failing for a third consecutive year to secure an F1 return and being limited to test activities, Schumacher has chosen to leave the Grand Circus and focus on another category, the WEC, where he will have the opportunity to compete: “He made a very wise decision. He has reached a point where waiting no longer makes sense, and now he wants to race, and he will undoubtedly do so successfully,” said Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff to Sky Deutschland. “He is a young talent with the right values. He is very intelligent but, unfortunately, never had the opportunity in the right environment in Formula 1.”

The brief experience
Formula 2 champion in 2020, Mick Schumacher debuted in Formula 1 with Haas the following year, staying with the American team through 2022, when he also left the Ferrari Driver Academy. After scoring a total of 12 points and amid disagreements with then-Team Principal Günther Steiner, his F1 experience ended before joining Mercedes in 2023 as a third driver and tester for the German manufacturer, as well as for McLaren and Williams.

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At the start of the season, Mick Schumacher was considered a potential candidate for a move to Alpine, as well as being named among the contenders to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams and as a driver for Sauber. However, his chances of returning to Formula 1 now seem to have vanished, with only VCARB still having an open seat for 2025. Recently, even his role as Mercedes’ reserve driver has come under scrutiny after rumors surfaced about the possible return of Valtteri Bottas to Brackley. In 2024, the former Ferrari junior took part in the WEC championship with Alpine, but a few hours ago, he posted a message on Instagram where he spoke about his setbacks and the importance of overcoming challenges. Below is his message.

Mick Schumacher’s words
Mick wrote on his social media profile: “Life doesn’t always go as planned, and setbacks can be tough to face, but every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and come back even stronger. This is just a chapter, not the whole story.”

The German concluded by saying: “The journey continues, and I am determined to rise again. Thank you all for your support; it means the world.”

Mick Schumacher, the 25-year-old son of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, has been navigating a challenging phase in his racing career. Currently competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine, Schumacher joined the French team after an abrupt dismissal from Haas in 2022. Recently, hopes were raised when an opportunity to join Ferrari’s WEC program emerged. However, negotiations fell through, leaving Schumacher once again grappling with uncertainty about when his fortunes might take a turn for the better.

A move to Ferrari would have marked a crucial step forward for Mick Schumacher, who continues to face the immense pressure of living up to his father’s extraordinary legacy. Despite his struggles on the track, Schumacher’s iconic surname remains a significant asset, offering considerable marketing value and keeping him in the conversation within the motorsport world.

Ferrari was reportedly considering Schumacher as a replacement for Robert Shwartzman, who is preparing for a switch to IndyCar. Some saw this potential move as not just a step into Ferrari’s WEC setup but also a strategic avenue to reestablish Schumacher’s presence in Formula One, possibly through a reserve driver role.

Mick Schumacher has also been linked to other F1 opportunities, but they, too, have slipped away. Williams was rumored to be considering him as a replacement for Logan Sargeant but ultimately chose to promote Franco Colapinto from within their ranks. Similarly, Sauber had reportedly eyed Schumacher as a candidate, yet their decision went to Gabriel Bortoleto, who was leading the Formula 2 standings at the time.

For Mick Schumacher, these missed opportunities underscore the challenges of carving out a distinct path in a career shadowed by a legendary name.

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However, negotiations fell through due to financial reasons, as reported by the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung. Ferrari had asked Mick Schumacher to bring new sponsors, which the driver was unable to secure. Consequently, Phil Hanson will take the seat in the yellow-red Hypercar, while Mick Schumacher will likely continue with the same commitments as in 2024, serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver and a main driver for Alpine in the WEC. The former Haas driver was also approached by the IndyCar series, but he rejected all offers to remain in European motorsport.

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Mick Schumacher debuted in F1 with Haas in 2021, where he competed for two seasons. However, at the end of 2022, the American team deemed his performances insufficient and decided to replace him with Nico Hulkenberg. Over the last two years, the young German has split his time between being a reserve driver for Mercedes and an official Alpine driver in the WEC championship. His goal, however, was to return permanently to F1, but after recent rejections, his chances of achieving that have dwindled significantly.

Ralf Schumacher’s Admission
Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Ralf Schumacher acknowledged that F1 is now a distant prospect for the former Ferrari junior. The young German was in contention for a seat with Alpine and Audi for next year, but the two teams chose Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto, respectively.

“Unfortunately, Formula 1 is rather unrealistic for Mick unless someone retires due to illness,” Ralf Schumacher stated.

“Mick has faced a lot lately. Among other things, he found out from a post by Alpine that he wouldn’t be selected. He’s certainly disappointed, but he can accept the decision.”

Gabriel Bortoleto a Great Choice
In his analysis on Sky, Ralf Schumacher expressed his approval of Audi’s choice of Gabriel Bortoleto: “I think it’s positive that the team is taking a new path with a young driver who won F3 and is currently leading in F2. It’s a level similar to that of Oscar Piastri. It won’t be easy with Sauber, as they currently have a poor car. It’s said that a large part of the team has been sold to Qatar for financial reasons. However, I believe that the combination of him, as a young talent, and the experienced Nico Hulkenberg is a good one,” Ralf Schumacher concluded.

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While Alpine, with whom Mick competed in endurance racing this year, confirmed Jack Doohan, Mercedes bet on Kimi Antonelli, who will have the opportunity to develop with a top team at just over 18 years old.

The F1 Dream Fades for Mick Schumacher
Explaining why Audi chose Gabriel Bortoleto over Mick Schumacher, Mattia Binotto said: “We had several discussions with Mick, and he was certainly a strong candidate.” – the former Ferrari team principal pointed out – “I know him very well from the past, and I’m aware of his strengths and perhaps his weaknesses. I certainly think he would have been a good choice. There were many candidates.” – the Italian manager added.

“Sometimes it’s necessary to make a certain decision, and I don’t believe there’s any reason behind it. We simply decided to choose Gabriel.”

The former Ferrari team principal then playfully challenged Toto Wolff, who also passed on Mick Schumacher despite his long-standing ties to the Mercedes family: “You should ask Toto why he chose Kimi and not Mick. Sometimes you need to reach a decision and then make it. We made the decision to hire Gabriel, and we’re happy.” – he explained.

Finally, Mattia Binotto added: “The way he drives impressed me, especially, as I told him, his ability to develop, improve, and progress over the course of the season. He’s doing this in his F2 season. The beginning was challenging, but he managed to stay focused on what he aims to achieve. He’s shown progress this season, and that’s what matters most to me.”

“I believe he’s not only a fantastic driver with high potential but also a great person. This is a very important aspect of our project. So, overall, I’m very happy to be here announcing Gabriel.” – Mattia Binotto concluded.

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Mick Schumacher had recently been among the possible driver candidates for Sauber in the 2025 season, on a list that included current drivers Bottas and Zhou, as well as Argentinian Franco Colapinto, whose debut has shifted the plans of several teams for the future, including Red Bull. In the end, however, the 2020 F2 champion was overlooked by the Swiss team and will be absent from the F1 lineup for the third consecutive year.

Mick Schumacher’s Career

Mick Schumacher made his F1 debut in 2021 driving the Haas VF-21, the least competitive car in the history of the American team, where he scored zero points and consistently finished at the back with teammate Nikita Mazepin. The 2022 season was better, with flashes of speed and solid performances in a few races that earned him 16th place with 12 points, but it wasn’t enough: the American team opted for the return of Nico Hulkenberg.

Mercedes continued to support Schumacher, offering him a third driver and testing contract, allowing him to drive the Mercedes W14 and McLaren MCL60 in the 2023 Barcelona and Portimao tests. In 2024, he debuted in the WEC Hypercar category, driving the Alpine A424. His “loan” to Alpine also enabled him to drive the Alpine A522, the 2022 F1 car, during a test session at Paul Ricard.

Schumacher’s return to F1 in 2025 seemed almost certain. He was rumored as a potential teammate to Albon at Williams, but the British team chose Carlos Sainz. He was suggested as a late-season replacement for Sargeant, but Williams opted for their Academy driver, Franco Colapinto. He was also mentioned as a possible Mercedes teammate for George Russell if Kimi Antonelli was promoted to Williams, but Mercedes decided to promote the Italian driver directly without a step through Grove. He was linked as a potential teammate to Gasly at Alpine, but Australian Jack Doohan was chosen instead. And finally, he was considered for the Sauber-Audi seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg, but the team went with Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto.

A Faster and “Younger” F1

Does the failure to secure the Sauber seat in 2025 mean the end of Mick Schumacher’s F1 career? Not necessarily, as the German still considers F1 his top priority. However, time is not on his side.

F1 is getting faster, not only on the track but also in terms of debuting drivers. The average debut age has dropped significantly in recent years: Gabriel Bortoleto, Oliver Bearman, and Kimi Antonelli were born in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively, far younger than Mick Schumacher, Drugovich, and Pourchaire, who were born in 1999, 2000, and 2003. Ironically, Mick Schumacher, at 25, is the “oldest” of this group, but even the three F2 champions are already “out of time,” as Pourchaire himself has said—despite being only 21, the Frenchman is aware he may never secure an F1 seat.

The fomer Ferrari Driver Academy member remains available for F1, and perhaps there will still be an opportunity to see the F2 champion as a main driver in the coming years. Unfortunately for him and many other young, promising drivers, F1 teams are already focusing on drivers born in the late 2000s.

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