Mick Schumacher is facing a potentially decisive duel in his quest for a Formula 1 seat. His competitor is a close friend, named after his father.
The future of Mick Schumacher is at a crossroads. On Wednesday, July 3, Alpine has scheduled test drives in Le Castellet, France. The son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher could prove himself for a seat in the 2025 season but faces a strong competitor.
What has Alpine revealed about Schumacher’s test drive?
Alpine stated in a release: “As part of our TPC (Testing Previous Cars) program, we will be testing reserve driver Jack Doohan in line with his 2024 schedule and Mick Schumacher as part of his Alpine Endurance Project next week at the Circuit Paul Ricard. We look forward to continuing to deploy our Race Support Team and the A522 Formula 1 car during our TPC program.”
What is the cockpit situation at Alpine?
While Pierre Gasly’s contract has been extended for “several years,” the collaboration with Esteban Ocon ends at the close of this season. Therefore, the Alpine F1 Team is looking for a new driver for the upcoming season. This presents a significant opportunity for the 25-year-old Mick Schumacher.
Who is Mick Schumacher’s competitor?
Jack Doohan will also be taking the wheel during the test drives and is hoping for a Formula 1 seat. The 21-year-old Australian is the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan.
Over the past two years, he has competed in Formula 2, finishing 6th and 3rd in the overall standings. In Formula 3, he won the vice-championship in 2021.
While he wasn’t as successful as Mick Schumacher in the junior racing series, with Schumacher winning the Formula 3 championship in 2018 and the Formula 2 championship in 2020, Doohan is currently a reserve driver for Alpine. Although he lacks Formula 1 race experience, he has completed several test drives and Friday practice sessions.
In May 2024, Doohan completed his first test of the year with the Alpine A522 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. While Schumacher has the advantage of having racing experience in Formula 1, Doohan has spent more time in the Formula 1 car over the past two years as Alpine provides ample testing opportunities for its junior drivers.
What is the relationship between Mick Schumacher and Jack Doohan?
The two drivers share a good relationship and are considered friends, partly due to the friendly connections between their families.