In the midst of the Canadian Grand Prix, Alpine’s team boss Bruno Famin revealed that there have been advanced discussions with Mick Schumacher about securing a race seat for the next Formula One season. This revelation came amid the fallout from the Monaco Grand Prix, where Esteban Ocon’s collision with teammate Pierre Gasly had significant repercussions.
The Monaco Grand Prix incident saw Esteban Ocon’s car launched into the air at the iconic Portier corner, resulting in a dramatic halt to his race. The stewards concluded that the collision was due to an overly ambitious overtaking attempt by Ocon, penalizing him with a 10-second penalty and a five-place grid drop for the Canadian GP. Ocon publicly acknowledged his fault on social media, admitting that he misjudged the gap he aimed for.
Bruno Famin, speaking to Canal+ television, expressed his disappointment over the incident, indicating that internal disciplinary actions against Ocon were on the table: ‘It’s sad, this kind of incident. It’s exactly what we didn’t want to see. And there will be consequences.’ His teammate, Pierre Gasly, emphasized the breach of team protocol, adding that both cars could have scored points if the instructions were followed. This incident not only led to immediate penalties but also sparked rumors about Ocon potentially losing his seat, despite his contract running until the end of 2024.
The possibility of Ocon losing his seat has opened the door wider for Mick Schumacher. Bruno Famin mentioned Schumacher as a strong candidate during his conversation with Sky Sports: ‘It would be a mistake not to have him on the list.’ Schumacher, who is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine, has made a positive impression with his speed and team spirit. Famin praised Schumacher’s adaptation to endurance racing and highlighted his teamwork, stating, ‘He is super fast, but that is not the most important thing in the WEC. You have to be consistent and have a good team spirit. I am very impressed with his team spirit from day one.’
Schumacher’s aspirations to return to F1 remain strong. Over the Monaco GP weekend, he shared with Sky Sports Germany, ‘My dream is still to race in F1. We have to hope that the dominoes will fall in my direction and hopefully I will end up with a seat.’ At Montreal, Famin confirmed ongoing discussions with Schumacher and other potential drivers like Jack Doohan, albeit nothing has been finalized yet. The uncertainty surrounding Pierre Gasly’s contract, which also expires at the end of the season, adds another layer of complexity to Alpine’s driver lineup for the future. For now, Schumacher remains a significant contender, backed by his experience with Haas in 2021 and 2022, as well as his current role as a reserve driver for Mercedes.
As the Formula One season progresses, all eyes will be on Alpine’s decisions regarding their driver lineup and how these choices will shape the team’s future dynamics.
Alpine is at a crossroads with significant decisions ahead involving potential driver changes. The talks with Mick Schumacher signal a possible shakeup, reflecting the ongoing uncertainties within the team.
