Mick Schumacher, still a hope for an F1 seat
A return to the premier class of motorsport seems compromised for Mick Schumacher, but an old rival of his father, Mika Häkkinen, keeps hope alive.
Since 2022, Mick Schumacher has not touched an F1 steering wheel, but his father’s former championship rival believes he could make a return to the series. Mick Schumacher has the confidence and encouragement from the double champion Mika Häkkinen, who believes that the door is still open for the German to return to the championship.
The 25-year-old driver, who made his F1 debut in 2021, spent two seasons with Haas before being replaced by his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg. Beyond his ranking behind his 2022 teammate, Kevin Magnussen, his tendency for costly crashes proved to be a setback for the team. Following his dismissal from the American team, Mick Schumacher took on the role of reserve driver at Mercedes, a team for which his father Michael competed in F1 from 2010 to 2012. At the same time, the German is racing with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Thus, he left his position with the Brackley team at the end of last season to focus exclusively on his endurance program.
He recently reflected on his journey in Formula 1, stating that he had focused too much on plan A in the past. He not only missed the opportunity to secure a seat at Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly, which was ultimately given to Jack Doohan, but also the chance to drive for Audi in their first F1 season in 2026.
However, Mika Häkkinen does not believe that the F1 era of the 2020 F2 champion is completely over: “I think he still has a chance to return to Formula 1. The door is always open. You just need to talk to the right people,” Häkkinen told Total-Motorsport.
Cadillac could be a lifeline. The participation of the company supported by General Motors at the start of the 2026 F1 season gives Mick Schumacher the opportunity to give his F1 career another chance. He has experience in Formula 1 and in different disciplines, added Häkkinen. And he is young. These are all good things, they are all positive factors.
However, in order to secure a place with Cadillac, he will have to compete against drivers with much more experience in F1, such as Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Perez.
If the road to F1 seems fraught with obstacles for Mick Schumacher, the optimism displayed by Mika Häkkinen offers a glimmer of hope. His experiences in different arenas, his youth, and the potential interest from Cadillac might well be the elements that could help reignite his career. Even though he is happy with Alpine in WEC, he will need to ask himself the right questions to follow in his father’s footsteps. Does the German still have the necessary strengths to convince a team to trust him, despite a period of inactivity and seasons of fierce competition?
