Mick Schumacher will proceed with the Alpine Hypercar squad within the World Endurance Championship for a second season in 2025.
It has been announced that the previous Haas Formula 1 driver, together with five other drivers, can be a part of the total line-up of two Alpine A424 LMDhs operated by Signatech next season.
Frederic Makowiecki joins the Alpine team after leaving Porsche after 11 seasons, while reserve driver Jules Gounon is promoted to a full-time racing seat after 4 Renault race appearances in 2024.
They will replace Matthieu Vaxiviere, who left the Hypercar class squad while being on Alpine's books from 2021, and Nicolas Lapierre, who retired as a driver after the Fuji WEC round in September and have become the team's sporting director.
Schumacher's confirmation, together with Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin, follows his refusal to commit to a second WEC season while a return to F1 was still a possibility.
The 25-year-old German, who will leave his position as Mercedes' F1 reserve at the tip of 2024, said: “I’m delighted to proceed to be a part of the Alpine Endurance adventure.
“We have had a fantastic first 12 months together and I’m committed to helping make sure the program performs even higher in its second 12 months.
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Nicolas Lapierre
Photo: Shameem Fahath
“We have defined a few points where we want to attack, so I am looking forward to my second season of endurance.”
Makowiecki will remain within the WEC's Hypercar division after being a part of the Porsche factory squad for the past two seasons.
The 44-year-old Frenchman insisted after leaving Porsche that he had expressed a desire to go away in quest of what he described as a “new challenge” before Porsche Penske Motorsport decided to limit its full-time driver staff to 2 drivers per automotive.
Makowiecki revealed that he was “extremely proud” to affix Alpine.
“Representing a French manufacturer in the WEC with the opportunity to pursue overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is something special, especially as Alpine has a rich motorsport history,” he said.
“I actually liked the team's approach and development: Alpine improved and performed brilliantly in its first season against very stiff competition.
“I am joining humbly, but I want to make a significant contribution to the team.”
#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Frederic Makowiecki
Photo: JEP / Motorsport Images
Gounon (29) will move to a full-time position at Alpine, though he has one 12 months left on his contract with Mercedes, whose GT team he has been a part of since 2021.
“I'm really happy that thanks to Alpine's trust I can become a full-time driver,” he said.
Bruno Famin, Vice President Motorsport at Alpine, added: “We have chosen talented drivers who are usually not only fast, but in addition have exemplary analytical skills and pondering.
“Each of them has unique potential and has one ambition: to enhance the team and A424 as much as possible.
“Building on the foundations of our first campaign, we have built a strong, cohesive group, and the commitment of our drivers, combined with their talent, will allow us to face the challenges that await us in the 2025 season.”
He added that Makowiecki was appointed to the team due to his “experience, opinions and racing skills.”
Alpine has not yet revealed how the six drivers will line up in each cars.
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