Mick Schumacher says he is keeping his options open for next year, despite having shown a clear inclination towards returning to single-seaters after two seasons in the World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher’s future has been a subject of intense speculation over the last few months, particularly following his maiden IndyCar test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in October.
The German has been racing in the WEC’s Hypercar class with Alpine since the start of last year, having lost his Haas Formula 1 seat at the end of 2022. But he has always maintained that he prefers driving single-seaters over prototype sportscars, making IndyCar an appealing option for him.
Speaking at last weekend’s Bahrain finale, Schumacher insisted he has yet to finalise his programme for 2026, but did not rule out the prospect of continuing in the WEC for a third campaign.
“The plan is still open. Of course, it’s no secret that I really enjoy single-seaters, but I’m keeping an open mind about the future,” the 26-year-old told Motorsport.com.
“I’m trying to find out what excites me most. Endurance racing is definitely interesting, and it’s great to be pushing flat-out again.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Frederic Makowiecki, Mick Schumacher, #35 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi
Photo by: James Moy Photography via Getty Images
Schumacher was in contention for a reserve role at Cadillac’s new F1 team for 2026 as part of a dual programme that would have also seen him race for its factory Jota squad in the WEC. But the deal with the GM brand collapsed during the summer break, ending any short-term hopes of an F1 return.
Alpine remains keen to retain Schumacher as part of its driver line-up in the WEC, citing both sporting and commercial reasons for continuing its association with him.
During his two seasons with the French squad in the WEC, Schumacher claimed three podiums in Hypercar, including two at the start of 2025 in the build-up to the Le Mans 24 Hours.
But speaking to Motorsport.com in Bahrain, team principal Phillipe Sinault made it clear that Alpine cannot wait too long for him to finalise his plans, saying “it is time” for him to decide his future in WEC.
Asked if he had set himself a deadline for 2026, Schumacher only said “probably around the start of next season”, without specifying which series he was referring to.
Move to the US?
For many drivers from outside the US, a full-time seat in IndyCar often means relocating or basing themselves in America. Sebastien Bourdais, for instance, applied for a green card for himself and his family after several years in the series.
Asked if such a move would be an option for him: “It could be, but I wouldn’t necessarily have to relocate permanently. It depends on what the programme looks like.”
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