Mick Schumacher, the reserve driver for Mercedes AMG F1, caught the attention of Alpine’s boss, Bruno Famin, with his performances in the World Endurance Championship. This puts him as a candidate for a spot in Formula 1 in 2025. Currently, Alpine’s drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, are reaching the end of their contracts and are attracting interest from other teams. Famin stated that he is not in a hurry to make a decision about Alpine’s plans, but the F1 driver market has heated up with Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Sauber/Audi. Rumors have emerged that Sauber/Audi is looking to take advantage of their improved performance this season and attract Ocon to lead their team. If Ocon or Gasly leave, Alpine’s slow start to this season, with only one point scored in seven races, may limit their options. Schumacher, who lost his spot in F1 with Haas in 2022, made a successful return to sports cars with Alpine in the Hypercar category of the WEC. His teammate, Nicolas Lapierre, praised his impressive pace in Imola, and Famin also spoke highly of the German driver’s performance in endurance races.
«In the world of endurance racing, setting a fast lap doesn’t always guarantee success. Due to Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations and the need to carefully manage performance, pure driving skill is not the only focus. However, Mick Schumacher has truly impressed with his ability to adapt to the endurance mindset. Unlike some single-seater drivers who are often seen as selfish, Mick has shown openness, cooperation, and willingness to learn from his teammates in the world of endurance racing. His team spirit has been exceptional.»
Famin reveló que Alpine consideró varios pilotos para oportunidades potenciales, incluyendo Schumacher. Valtteri Bottas, quien dejará Sauber debido a la creciente influencia de Audi, también está explorando sus opciones. El piloto finlandés, ganador de diez carreras de Fórmula 1 con Mercedes, supuestamente está en negociaciones para un posible regreso a Williams para asociarse con Alex Albon.
Alpine esperaba un comienzo lento en esta temporada actual después de reformular el concepto de su coche. Sin embargo, el equipo ha mejorado gradualmente su rendimiento y ahora está operando en el límite mínimo de peso, después de cargar peso en exceso anteriormente. Recientemente, Ocon logró un punto en Miami, aunque Alpine tuvo dificultades para destacarse en Imola el fin de semana pasado, no logrando asegurar un lugar entre los diez primeros.
