Mick Schumacher discussed the upcoming challenge of his debut in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine later this year.
The German driver is poised to enter WEC with Alpine, marking his first foray into racing outside of the open-wheel category. Concurrently, he remains committed to his role as a reserve driver for Mercedes.
Having concluded his last Formula 1 season with Haas in 2022, Schumacher’s transition to WEC prompted questions about whether it was a lateral move. Refuting this notion, Schumacher stated to PlanetF1:
“I’m a racing driver, I haven’t been out of racing in 14 years previous to this, so it was a clear choice and clear direction that I wanted to be racing again next year. It is an upcoming championship in general, so I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t call it a sidestep.”
He acknowledged the unique charm and challenges of WEC, likening them to those of Formula 1.
With responsibilities split between two teams, concerns arose about potential difficulties. However, Schumacher remained optimistic:
“So, I’m doing a dual program with the reserve driver’s seat role as a whole, to keep contact with Formula 1 but I see it as a challenge, and I see it as something where also I, as a driver, can develop further hopefully as well.”
Moreover, Schumacher believes that his experience in WEC will contribute to his growth as a driver, potentially benefiting any future return to Formula 1:
“If, let’s say, my way leads back to Formula 1 one day, then I’ll be able to take that development that I have done in that series over to Formula 1 again.”
