Mick Schumacher will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Afrosport reports.
The son of legendary German driver Michael Schumacher has been part of the Mercedes since the start of 2023 as their reserve and simulator driver. This was coupled with commitments with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher will now leave the German automobile giant after he was unable to make a return to the F1 grid for 2025. He had been linked with Alpine and Sauber – but missed out on those two drives.
Mick Schumacher reacting to the development said on the Mercedes F1 website: “I am grateful to Toto [Wolff] and the entire Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for the insight I have gained over these two years.
“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% 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.”
📰 We can confirm that @SchumacherMick has chosen to leave his role with the Team at the end of the 2024 season
Toto 💬 “Mick is first and foremost a racing driver and one that deserves to be competing in the very best championships”
Danke, Mick 🙏
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 28, 2024
Schumacher had a full-time F1 race seat with Haas between 2021 and 2022, starting 43 races and scoring a total of 12 points.
His Mercedes departure leaves the reserve seat available for Valtteri Bottas who is without a seat for 2025 as he will depart Sauber at the end of 2024 along with Zhou Guanyu.
