Mick Schumacher: Mercedes F1 reserve driver to go away function at finish of 2024 Method 1 season

Mick Schumacher will go away his function as Mercedes F1 reserve driver on the finish of the 2024 season.

Schumacher joined Mercedes at the beginning of 2023 after he was dropped from Haas, competing in a number of exams and simulator classes for the Silver Arrows over the past two years.

The 25-year-old was linked with the Alpine seat in the summertime, however Jack Doohan was confirmed to drive alongside Pierre Gasly from subsequent 12 months. Schumacher was additionally in rivalry to switch Logan Sargeant at Williams, however Franco Colapinto acquired the seat.

Valtteri Bottas, who will go away Sauber on the finish of this 12 months, is anticipated to take over Schumacher’s function at his former group.

“I am grateful to Toto and the entire Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for the insight I have gained over these two years,” mentioned Schumacher.

“They’ve undoubtedly made me a extra skilled racing driver as a result of I’ve acquired to know the engineering aspect higher. However watching these automobiles race and never sitting within the cockpit myself is hard.

“I want to get back to focusing 100% on racing. I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport. Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver, it is racing that gives you that feeling you love.”

Schumacher, who’s the son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, has been competing for Alpine within the World Endurance Championship this 12 months, scoring a podium within the penultimate spherical in Fuji.

The German will proceed to race for Alpine in WEC in 2025, however a return to F1 sooner or later is trying more and more unlikely.

“Mick’s hard work, diligence, and determination in his role as Reserve Driver has been vital for the team over the past two years,” mentioned Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff.

“From his work in the simulator, testing of various cars, and being part of the trackside team, we couldn’t have asked for any more from him. From day one, he fitted into the team with ease and has become an incredibly well-liked colleague for everyone at Brackley and Brixworth.

“Nevertheless, Mick is at the beginning a racing driver. We’ve got seen from each his time in F1, and this 12 months together with his performances within the World Endurance Championship, that he’s a racer of an extremely excessive calibre and one which deserves to be competing in the easiest championships.

“As he moves on to his next challenge, I would like to thank Mick personally for his contribution to our team and we all wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

Bottas confirms Mercedes talks ‘going nicely’ and targets return to full-time seat

Zhou Guanyu and Bottas have each been dropped by Sauber for 2025, as Nico Hulkenberg and Method 2 championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto be a part of the group which is able to turn into Audi in 2026.

Bottas spent 5 seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate between and is favorite to re-join the group as reserve driver.

“We are talking and it’s going well. Still a bit of work to do but we’re talking,” mentioned Bottas forward of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Requested on his wider plans outdoors of F1 for 2025, Bottas mentioned: “Subsequent 12 months I will not be racing a full season some other place, however I would do some one-off issues relying on the place I find yourself and the way a lot driving or testing I’ll get to do.

“I will be driving something but not for a full season. It’s a conscious decision. It just comes too quick [after being released by Sauber earlier this month].

“Let’s simply say leaping right into a full IndyCar season after 12 years of F1, I simply really feel prefer it comes a bit too fast. It is loads of exhausting work and loads of familiarisation to be executed, so I might reasonably take a little bit of time and work out what’s subsequent

“I’ve had talks and approaches [from IndyCar] but at this point I’ve made it pretty clear that next year comes a bit too quick. My priority [for 2026] is still to stay in Formula 1.”

Earlier this week, F1 introduced they’d reached an settlement in precept with American automotive big Basic Motors for its Cadillac model to hitch the grid as an eleventh group for 2026.

Cadillac are more likely to fill one in all their seats with an American driver and Bottas admits he’ll converse to the outfit.

“That’s just increased the chances of getting a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal,” he mentioned.

“Yes [I will try to talk to them]. I’m sure I’m not the only one but of course it’s interesting for me and I think it’s great for F1.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s dwell Qatar GP schedule

Thursday November 28
3pm: Drivers’ Press Convention

Friday November 29
9.55am: F1 Academy Apply One
11am: F2 Apply
1pm: Qatar GP Apply One (follow begins at 1.30pm)
2.55pm: F1 Academy Apply Two
4.05pm: F2 Qualifying
5pm: Qatar GP Dash Qualifying (qualifying begins at 5.30pm)*

Saturday November 30
12.10pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
1pm: Qatar GP Dash build-up
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT
3.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book
4pm: F2 Dash Race
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: F1 Academy: Race One
8.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book

Sunday December 1
10.55am: F1 Academy Race Two
12.15pm: F2 Function Race
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: The QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP response
7pm: Ted’s Pocket book

*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion

Method 1’s season-ending triple-header continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream the ultimate two F1 races and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Member