Following Cadillac’s decision not to sign Mick Schumacher, the American team announced Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as their drivers for their inaugural season in 2026 in Formula 1.
The German, who was on the grid for Haas in 2021 and 2022, was considered at one point but ultimately didn’t make the cut. For team principal Graeme Lowdon, the experience and leadership abilities of Bottas and Pérez will be crucial in building the new team supported by General Motors.
“Hiring two such experienced drivers is a strong sign of intent. They’ve seen it all and know what it takes to be successful in Formula 1. More importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, competitive instinct, and of course, speed will be invaluable,” commented Lowdon.
The choice came as a surprise to Mick’s uncle, Ralf Schumacher, who would have preferred a combination of a young and experienced driver.
“There are positive things to say about Mick. He was clearly on the list,” he stated to Sky Deutschland in July. However, according to him, “the list was quite long.”
Mick continues to compete in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Alpine, where he has achieved two podiums, and already has a test scheduled in IndyCar in October with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
For Ralf, however, the chances of returning to the Formula 1 grid are becoming increasingly distant: “He’s been out of F1 for a few years, you could say he’s running out of time. And one can’t forget that there are already young drivers from Formula 2, like Alex Dunne (19) and Arvid Lindblad (18), who have good chances of reaching Formula 1 soon. For Mick, it’s not getting any easier,” he said.
“Statistically, it’s getting more and more difficult. The longer he’s out, the smaller his chances of returning,” he concluded.
