Auf Wiedersehen, Pet-ronas: Mick Schumacher to leave Mercedes

Mick Schumacher is set to leave his role as Mercedes F1 reserve driver at the end of the season, ending a two-year stint as the team’s back-up.

The son of seven-time champion Michael signed with the Silver Arrows two years ago, on the back of being dropped from his race seat at Haas. His aim at the time was to bounce back onto the grid.

As luck would have it Mercedes had a vacancy open up in February, but in the end it chose to hand what might be the toughest follow-up act in F1 history to junior driver Kimi Antonelli.

With little prospect of a return, Schumacher has decided it’s time to move on.

“I am grateful to Toto and the entire Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for the insight I have gained over these two years,” said the 25-year-old. “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.”

What next for the German driver? He’s done the full World Endurance Championship with Alpine this season, scoring his first podium in Fuji in September in the otherwise uncompetitive A424 hypercar. So more of that looks likely.

“Mick's hard work, diligence, and determination in his role as Reserve Driver has been vital for the team over the past two years,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “However, Mick is first and foremost a racing driver. We have seen from both his time in F1, and this year with his performances in the World Endurance Championship, that he is a racer of an incredibly high calibre and one that deserves to be competing in the very best championships.

“As he moves on to his next challenge, I would like to thank Mick personally for his contribution to our team and we all wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

And who might take his place as Merc’s supersub? Rumour has it that Valtteri Bottas - now without a seat after being dropped by Sauber - could be on his way back to the team he left three years ago…