Alpine says it’s doing all the things in its power to maintain Mick Schumacher within the Hypercar squad for next yr's World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher joined Alpine initially of the brand new LMDh program this yr to race the No. 36 Alpine A424 LMDh alongside Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxiviere within the WEC after spending the 2023 season on the sidelines after being dropped by Haas in Formula 1.
However, the German driver still has aspirations of racing in F1 and has made it clear on multiple occasions that his priority for 2025 is to return to the Grand Prix grid.
In response to speculation about his future, Philippe Sinault, team principal of Signatech Alpine, said that the French brand is in lively dialogue with the 25-year-old to persuade him to remain within the squad for a second term.
Asked how confident he was of keeping Schumacher next yr, he told Motorsport.com: “It's hard to say. I hope [he stays].
“We press and immediately tell him that the really key thing for us is that he has to stick with us.
“But nothing [is] in my hand. Formula 1 is still Formula 1. We have to wait again. I hope we will have some news on this in the near future.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Nicolas Lapierre, Mick Schumacher, Matthieu Vaxiviere, #12 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963: Will Stevens, Callum Ilott, Norman Nato
Photo: JEP / Motorsport Images
Alpine itself considered Schumacher for its F1 team next yr, while debating a successor to Haas-bound Esteban Ocon, but ultimately selected its junior driver Jack Doohan to partner Pierre Gasly.
Alpine Motorsport boss Bruno Famin, who has leadership roles in each the F1 and WEC programs, said he was impressed with Schumacher's performances this yr and hopes he’ll proceed with the team in 2025.
“I'm very comfortable with Mick. He did a excellent job,” Famin told Motorsport.com.
“His adaptation to endurance is amazing, very fast, excellent, everyone knows it's hard for a single-seater.
“Especially for him, in the beginning of the yr he was very focused on learn how to get a seat in Formula 1 and he continues to be working on that.
“But if we put that aside, he is de facto focused on this system. In Austin we saw again how briskly he was in the course of the race.
“I'm very happy for Mick, if we have the opportunity to continue together we will be really happy.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Mick Schumacher, Matthieu Vaxiviere
Photo: Andreas Beil
Schumacher's possibilities of returning to F1 within the near future seem slim, with only Sauber having a vacant seat for the 2025 season.
Asked what Alpine can do to maintain Schumacher next yr, Famin replied: “To be higher.
“It's not nearly what the team can do [about his personal choice].
“We all know Mick's primary priority could be if he had the chance [to return to F1]but we all know there is just one [seat] left a likelihood to return to Formula 1.
We'll see what we do and what the ultimate decision might be. We might be comfortable on our side [if he stays]”
Both Famin and Sinault have stated that they hope Schumacher will extend his relationship with Alpine if he cannot discover a technique to return to F1 next yr.
Sinault also added: “I believe we did job together. I’m very happy along with his level of performance, pace and commitment. I believe he’s comfortable with this job too.
“If he is not in F1, we are closer to further cooperation.”
Schumacher: A podium in Japan doesn't change anything
Schumacher, Lapierre and Vaxiviere finished third within the penultimate round of the season at Fuji this month, giving the Alpine A424 its first podium finish.
The result also marked Schumacher's first podium visit in any category since his 2020 Formula 2 title campaign, during which he never finished higher than sixth in his two years in F1.
However, the 25-year-old says Alpine's breakthrough lead to Japan may have no impact on where he races in 2025.
“Right now we are just happy with the podium,” he said. “Whatever happens in the longer term might be decided hopefully later this yr.
“As soon as I do know what I'll be doing, I'll make sure to put out a press release and allow you to all know.
“But there's definitely hope for Formula 1 because that's what I've dreamed about since I was a little boy. But it's definitely great to be in the WEC.”
