Mick Schumacher’s Dream of F1 Return Dashes Further as Alpine Shuts Door on Potential Seat
In a shocking turn of events that has left fans and racing enthusiasts reeling, Flavio Briatore, the influential Alpine executive adviser and acting team principal, has decisively extinguished any hopes of Mick Schumacher making a comeback to Formula 1 with the Enstone-based team. Despite Schumacher’s recent foray into endurance racing with Alpine, Briatore’s blunt assertion that the 26-year-old is not on their “list” of potential drivers for the coveted second seat has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community.
Schumacher, who has spent the last two years competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) under the Alpine banner, has been relentlessly pursuing a pathway back to the pinnacle of motorsport—Formula 1. However, Briatore’s unequivocal dismissal of Schumacher’s candidacy to partner Pierre Gasly in 2026 has put a significant dent in those aspirations. Gasly, having secured a contract extension that will keep him at Alpine until 2028, now faces uncertainty regarding his teammate, particularly with current driver Franco Colapinto struggling to find his footing.
Briatore did not mince words when discussing Colapinto’s performance, expressing his dissatisfaction with the Argentine’s earlier races this season: “Doohan had too many accidents,” he stated, referencing the former driver, “Colapinto was also disappointing at the beginning. We thought he would do better. Now he’s slowly getting going. He knows the car better and feels more comfortable.” His comments underscore the immense pressure that comes with driving for a factory team like Alpine, especially during a challenging season.
In an unexpected twist, Alpine is poised to relinquish its factory status next season, transitioning to a Mercedes customer team as the F1 landscape undergoes a significant overhaul of chassis and power unit regulations. With the team currently languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings with a mere 20 points—all accrued by Gasly—Briatore is on the hunt for a driver capable of effectively complementing the former grand prix winner.
“I’m still open to the second cockpit,” Briatore remarked, hinting at the possibility of recruiting a new talent, perhaps even from the Formula E circuit. “Maybe I should sign a Formula E driver? But seriously, we’re still open.” Despite this openness, the door for Schumacher has slammed shut, as Briatore was clear: “He’s not on our list.”
As the tension builds and the season unfolds, the fate of Alpine’s second seat remains uncertain. With Colapinto, Paul Aron, and the potential return of Jack Doohan on the horizon, the team’s future direction is still being forged amidst rising stakes. Meanwhile, Schumacher’s recent decision to turn down a reserve driver role at Cadillac only adds to the intrigue surrounding his next move.
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches, racing analysts and fans alike will be watching closely. Will Alpine’s search for a teammate yield unexpected results, or will Mick Schumacher’s quest for F1 redemption continue to face insurmountable hurdles? Only time will tell, but for now, it seems the road back to Formula 1 for Schumacher has become even more treacherous.
