German driver Mick Schumacher is optimistic about securing a full-time Formula 1 seat with Alpine in 2025. So, why was he driving a McLaren right after the Silverstone GP?
Mick Schumacher certainly has no shortage of work in 2024. He is the reserve driver for the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team, supporting Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and is heavily involved in simulator work.
Additionally, Mick is a race driver for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship and hopes to return to the F1 grid with the French team in 2025. Before the Silverstone GP, he and Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan tested at Le Castellet.
Alpine team boss Bruno Famin emphasized that the test wasn’t a shootout between the young drivers, but this claim isn’t widely believed in the F1 paddock.
Famin stated at Silverstone, “The test went very well. Mick and Jack had similar tasks and both did a good job.”
And now this: a Pirelli test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix weekend. McLaren had a strong chance to win with Lando Norris, but it didn’t pan out. So, who’s testing for McLaren at Silverstone? Mick Schumacher. How did that happen?
Before Mick Schumacher’s fans start getting overly excited, there’s a straightforward explanation. McLaren wanted to give their regular drivers, Norris and Oscar Piastri, a break after three consecutive race weekends.
Moreover, many fans might not remember that Mick Schumacher has been not just a reserve driver for Mercedes since 2023, but also for McLaren, who receive engines from Mercedes.
The 25-year-old Schumacher (43 Grands Prix, 16th in the 2022 championship) completed 53 laps for Pirelli at Silverstone, faster than Alex Albon in the Williams and Pietro Fittipaldi in the Haas. However, since these teams had different testing programs for Pirelli (focused on 2025 tires), lap times were irrelevant.
The Pirelli test continues on July 10 with GP winner Lando Norris in the McLaren, Logan Sargeant in the Williams, and future GP driver Oliver Bearman in the Haas.
British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit
- Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:22:27.095
- Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, +1.465
- Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +7.547
- Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +12.429
- Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +47.318
- Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +55.722
- Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +56.569
- Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +1:03.577
- Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1:08.387
- Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1:19.303
- Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1:28.960
- Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1:30.153
- Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, +1 lap
- Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +1 lap
- Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +1 lap
- Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 lap
- Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +1 lap
- Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1 lap