Toto Wolff has spoken about Mick Schumacher’s departure (Image: AP)
, the team principal of Mercedes, has confessed that it ‘made little sense’ to retain as a Formula One reserve driver for another season. The German racer, who was dropped by Haas after two seasons, had hoped his role with would keep him in contention for other racing seats.
However, after two full seasons, he remains sidelined in F1. Schumacher decided to step down from his role at the end of the 2024 season and is now focusing on competitive racing elsewhere.
He has been retained by Alpine for their driver line-up for the 2025 World Endurance Championship. Wolff, who was eager to sign Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, has supported the German’s decision to take control of his career.
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The Austrian stated: “He is a really great young man with the right values. He is very intelligent, but unfortunately, he never really got a chance in Formula One with the right environment.
“It has come to a point where the constant waiting makes little sense, and he now wants to race. He will certainly do that very successfully.”
will replace Schumacher for the 2025 season. The Finn, who lost his seat with Sauber, returns to his former team hoping to be more successful than his predecessor in using a stint as their designated ‘third driver’ to return to the F1 grid.
Schumacher, now 25, has emphasised his preference for competition over seeking elusive F1 opportunities. The young driver stressed: “I am grateful to Toto and the entire team for the insight I have gained over these two years.
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Mick Schumacher left his role as Mercedes (Image: Getty Images)
“They have undoubtedly made me a more experienced racing driver because I have got to know the engineering side better. But watching these cars race and not sitting in the cockpit myself is tough.
“I want to get back to focusing 100 per cent 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.”
Meanwhile, racing legend Mario Andretti offered Schumacher a glimmer of hope when he did not discount him from potentially joining Cadillac’s 2026 race lineup.
Andretti mentioned, regarding Schumacher’s chances: “Many drivers are being considered – we are keeping all options open.”