Schumacher stays with Alpine in WEC after Mercedes F1 exit

Mick Schumacher will proceed with the Alpine Hypercar squad within the World Endurance Championship for a second season in 2025. 

The previous Haas System 1 racer has been introduced together with 5 different drivers within the full line-up for the 2 Signatech-run Alpine A424 LMDhs subsequent season.

Frederic Makowiecki joins Alpine’s roster following his departure from Porsche after 11 seasons, whereas reserve driver Jules Gounon strikes as much as a full-time race seat after making 4 race appearances with the Renault model in 2024. 

They’re replacements for Matthieu Vaxiviere, who has departed the Hypercar class line-up having been on Alpine’s books since 2021, and Nicolas Lapierre, who retired as a driver after the Fuji WEC spherical in September to turn into sporting director of the workforce. 

The affirmation of Schumacher, together with that of Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin, follows his refusal to decide to a second season of WEC whereas the potential for a return to F1 remained.

The 25-year-old German, who will depart his Mercedes F1 reserve function on the finish of 2024, mentioned: “I’m delighted that I’ll proceed to be a part of the Alpine Endurance journey.

“We had an important first 12 months collectively, and I’m decided to assist be sure that the efficiency of the programme is even higher within the second 12 months. 

“Now we have outlined a couple of factors the place we wish to assault, so I am actually wanting ahead to my second endurance season.”

Makowiecki will stay within the WEC’s Hypercar division having been a part of the manufacturing unit Porsche squad for the previous two seasons. 

The Frenchman, 44, insisted after his departure from Porsche that he had communicated his want to go away to hunt what he described as a “contemporary problem” earlier than Porsche Penske Motorsport’s resolution to slim down its full-time driving crew to 2 drivers per automobile. 

Makowiecki revealed that he was “extraordinarily proud” to hitch Alpine. 

“It is one thing particular to signify a French producer within the WEC with the potential for aiming for an general victory within the Le Mans 24 Hours, particularly as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport historical past,” he mentioned. 

“I actually favored the workforce’s method and improvement: Alpine improved and excelled in its first season in opposition to very robust competitors. 

“I’m becoming a member of humbly, however I wish to contribute to the workforce considerably.”

#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Frederic Makowiecki

Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Photos

Gounon, 29, will transfer right into a full-time seat at Alpine regardless of having a 12 months left to run on his contract at Mercedes, whose GT roster he has been part of since 2021.

“I’m genuinely completely satisfied to turn into a full-time driver due to Alpine’s confidence,” he mentioned.

Bruno Famin, vp of motorsport at Alpine added: “Now we have chosen gifted drivers who should not solely quick but in addition have an exemplary analytical capability and mindset. 

“Every brings a singular potential, with a single ambition: to enhance the workforce and the A424 as a lot as doable.

“Now we have constructed a powerful, close-knit group to construct on the foundations of our first marketing campaign, and the dedication of our drivers, coupled with their expertise, will enable us to rise to the challenges that await us within the 2025 season.”

He added that Makowiecki had been introduced into the workforce for his “expertise, suggestions and race craft”. 

Alpine has but to disclose how the six drivers will line up throughout the 2 automobiles.