Mick Schumacher’s Next Move Could Change Everything

Mick Schumacher’s F1 alternative test went well…in fact…it looks suspiciously good.

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After years of battling F1 politics and proving his talent in endurance racing, Mick Schumacher is now stepping into IndyCar. His recent test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing may have been more than a simple publicity stunt a genuine audition, funded and supported by the team and Honda themselves. Mick’s performance has caught serious attention by Indycar’s own marketing department themselves…the same series his father once dismissed might now be his best shot at redemption. One thing’s certain — the racing world is watching closely.

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Mick Schumacher’s Indycar Test Could Change Everything

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Why should I care about this? Because it’s my birthday and if I want to yap on about this, I’m going to yap on about it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, allow me to drink my cup of copium. So, let’s talk about Mick Schemacker and what he’s been up to. And so far, so good. That was the fourword summary the German driver provided to the press, but I’m quite certain some folks will be looking at this site and getting your phones of doubt out in the ready. Isn’t that going against everything his father Michael said that one time that he considered Indie car inferior and dangerous and he wouldn’t touch it with a 20ft barge pole? Yes, you are fair to bring that up. That is something that Michael did say back in the day. But that was back in the 2000s when Indie Car was undeniably a whole lot sketchier than it is today. Yes, it’s certainly incredibly tense because whenever I look at Indie Car and them going around like that, even if it’s around an oval, you think I’m I’m I’m always stressed out watching Indie Car because they’re having to go around that at full chat. But then I’m reminded of a quote that Michael also said that his son Mick brought up that, and I’m paraphrasing here, that shoe mackers are faster when they can see their wheels. Basically, they are really good for open wheel racing. And Indie Car might be Mick’s best bet. It certainly is. I think Mick Schumaca coded. Wait, why are you talking about Indie Car law? You should be talking about Formula 1. Well, yes, I do talk about Formula 1 a lot of the time, but I do dip in and out of various other series when I get the chance. Yeah, I am kind of limited when raising a toddler. I want to be present for them, of course, because, you know, they are my flesh and blood. But I can sort of bring it back around to Formula 1 because the pathway toward indie car could easily be in its own interpretation a valid way of getting back into Formula 1 should it come to it. Or if it doesn’t, this might be a really nice stopping off point for many, many years. After all, indie car drivers such as Ilio Kronas and Tkumas can easily succeed in the category going into their 40s. There is longevity in it. Allow me to provide you some of mixed words for your consideration. him. I don’t think that this blocks the way back into Formula 1. From what I’ve read so far, there are quite a few rumors sometimes around people from here, Indieg going back over there. Formula 1. Frankly, it’s a great championship. 17 races. I’m still young, so I still want to race as much as I can. Again, I think the people really live midsport here. I like their mentality of the driver being the main part of the team and trying to drive that team forwards. My target the last couple of years was always to go back to Formula 1. Unfortunately, that option hasn’t quite opened up this year and years previous to that. So, he admitted it’s been a bit of a slog. So, at some point else I want to see. I want to race again in single seaters and therefore Indie Car is a great one. Hearing what all the other drivers have said so far about Indie Car kind of led to actually making it happen today. Well, I mean, he isn’t wrong in that regard. There is a lot more chatter about Indie car drivers going over to Formula 1 than there has been in previous decades. I mean, you’ve only got to look at all of the bump around Colton Herter going from Indie Car to Formula 2, then maybe to Formula 1. Then, of course, you’ve got all the stuff that’s happening with Alex Pollo and the supposed McLaren deal that was not forthcoming and now Pastry is at the center of it all again. We all thought that was done and dusted in 2022. So suffice it to say with the outcome of all of that is that we didn’t get Colton Herter in in 2023 and all we got out of it was well Nick Dree at least he’s having a good time in Formula E. We didn’t get the best of that situation or the best of that world here though that might be the beginning of a trend differently. So what Mick is saying here I think is quite valid. Equally he could have gone off to Super Formula in Japan. That’s a Formula which has been gaining recognition internationally and respect from the current spec of car with Lawson himself deeming that it was vital for him preparing for Formula 1 action when he subbed in for Daniel Ricardo. And some of the youngsters like Oliver got to sample it in the winter. And let’s not forget Antony Nelly was meant to be trying out a Super Formula car but then got pulled out at the last minute due to some kind of stomach bug before the Abu Dhabi F2 Grand Prix weekend. I personally think though it was down to the fact well Toto believed he wasn’t going to get much more out of F2. probably best to bench him. So that means he could fully focus on the young driver test at the following week. That does make sense. And quite frankly, Kimmy Antonelli was going to get the super license points anyway. So there was no point to put him in that car and then put him in our car. And also I think the idea of racing in America all season long would be something that really appeals to mix background because one thing is for sure, the shoeers love America. They own a ranch there. His sister Gina is a pro horse rider and mixed grownup with a touch of cowboy culture. Indie car fits that vibe and the shoeer name already plays well in the states for obvious reasons. And yes, the family name has opened doors. It always does. But the real pitch from his management has been that Mick is a grafter, a bluecollar worker who got caught in house politics and Ferrari frostbite, which as has been laid bare with Ferrari the way it is right now, it’s probably for the best that he’s not within the Ferrari fold right now. He’s been able to redirect his efforts and improve his kudos and recognition within the motorsport. Even if the casual Formula 1 fan has proven just to remember, he split car in two. He’s been able to prove himself in World Endurance with Alpine. Dab hand in qualifying. Certainly a good team worker and also probably very much carrying many people within the number 36 car. Although I would suspect that the Valkyrie is giving everyone there a bit of the heeie-jeebies. But what I’m trying to say here is that Mick has done a lot of efforts and has proved positive that he is not a legacy hire. He’s not a guy who is riding on a name carrying a lot of money. Isn’t that right, Lance? Lance. Lance. Lance. Lance. Oh, no. No. Wait. No. He can’t hear us. My point is is that mixed course correction into Indie Car could be a smart bet if he was hoping to get back into F1 at all. And even if he doesn’t, he might have found a racing series which would tick most of his boxes. It’s not a done deal, of course. It’s not like he signed a contract to race there next year or anything. at least not yet. But it’s certainly become an option. An option which Schumaca is very much open to, especially considering that the plum of maybe going over to Cadillac fell through with a supposed reserve roll gig alongside some duties over in the Cadillac World Endurance team that completely disintegrated. It does seem very much to be appealing to Schumacer that he would dedicate an entire season to Indie Car, 17 races, instead of maybe sticking around the Alpine Wet team for yet another season. maybe getting a few more podiums, maybe seeing what happens, especially if Aston Martin run rings around them. There seems to be a lot more going for what might appeal to Schumaca’s work ethic. That maybe whilst he does appreciate and enjoy working as part of the collective, he might want to actually sample what his father Michael got to have at Ferrari and being at the center of a particular car. So yeah, I can imagine that maybe Alpine will be doing all they can to make sure that the German doesn’t leave their ranks. He’s a very important part, albeit one of many. But he has been carrying that team for hyper pole especially and I think he will only continue to improve if he does remain there. I’m quite certain that even if Alpine has no room for him that any other world endurance team will have him back if he decides just to have a quick dip in Indie car and then come back to Europe. And we all remember that McLaren were touting a supposed big star that they had in mind to test out their world endurance car. That could easily be mix shoe marker since he has done some TBC testing for McLaren as part of him being a Mercedes Reserve and then of course some private ones. And again, the whole idea of the driver being right at the center of it all is very appealing that he can actually be taken seriously, which is something that may or may not have been afforded to him over at H. And to me, I think this is a work ethic that really would appeal over at Indie Car since it very much is a mucking in sport as in we all do this together. There is no big ego here and you’ve really got to pull your weight. I think Mick is more than happy to do that and his management team have been very much leaning on that. Really trying to appeal to Cadillac with the backing of Andretti who very much knows about how Indie Car operates really trying to tug at that particular heartstring it wasn’t quite enough. But I think for the likes of Rayal Letterman Lanigan, the team which he tested for, oh that might be enough. Oh already the social media metrics from Ind. And I think it really helped that he actually got to test out an Indie car rather than just signing some prize deal with no testing at all, only testing after the fact, then maybe burning his toes or something like that. No, no, no. So far, everything is going as I think it should do. I mean, I’m not an indie car enthusiast. I’m not really okay with it as much as I am with Formula 1, but from what I’ve seen over the last few years, especially, this does seem to be how things operate. So, yeah, we got to talk about that test. Again, I’m not super familiar with Indie Car, but the test seemed to prove positive around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But I must point this out to you that this was a very curated test and upon reflection didn’t really test the limits of what Indie cars can and do operate on. As in, this wasn’t around the Indianapolis oval configuration. Mick has yet to do that. it was not taking place on a road circuit where it can get incredibly bumpy and really test the limits of the suspension of an indie car as well as the fact that those cars do not have power steering. They are very very tough to operate. So, let’s just say that the relative billyard surface of the road spec of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that was a relatively easy bet. But to be fair, this is a test, just a bedding in period. It’s a guide. So, I just thought I’d point that out there and just make sure that, you know, I’m not completely hooked on the copium. So, whilst Mick’s apparent ease of racing said machinery was evident, it wasn’t exactly a school of hard knocks for him, considering what Indie Car can do. But despite that, the fact he supposedly had a fun time testing that car and showed little difficulty is still noteworthy, especially again since these cars don’t have power steering whereas F1 cars do. And what that actually means in physical terms is wild. Indie car drivers wrestle a steering wheel that can generate several dozen kilos of torque midc corner. Basically, when you’re trying to steer the car, it’s like you’re trying to steer a trolley of bricks at nearly 200 mph. And when you stop to think about it, that is very similar to the kind of cars that his father Michael was racing in Formula 1 when palace steering had yet to grace that particular sport. whereas now it is actually commonplace in that it is very much old school. That is a comment that Mick used to describe Indie Car and the entire situation and atmosphere around it as very old school, very traditional, very much back in the day. Not nearly as clinical as he would describe Formula 1. Yes, it is the pinnacle of motorsport Formula 1, but Indie Car still very much has its heart rooted back in the olden days. And it really wouldn’t surprise me at all that in the future maybe Max Vstappen might have a test in an indie car as well because I think that Max would respect Mick’s take on that. It makes sense why they were good friends for so long, family friends at all. This is also something that Mick has been planning for the last couple of years, just waiting for the right opportunity and for the right connections to come good. This is not some kind of spur-of-the- moment thing that was orchestrated on his part, his management’s part, you know, after the whole Cadillac discussion fell through and he’s thinking, “Oh, I’ve got to find something, anything.” No, no, no, no. This has just been a long time coming. Him stating that he had been talking with very high-profile indie car members. This all coming from a very detailed article via Alpam Motor and Sport as well as racer and motorsport.com. The test Mick conducted was important for him to decide whether or not a move states side would be worthwhile as a holding pattern or mainstay. But whatever happens, Schumaca did comment that if he were to do this, it would be for all 17 races, not for him to do some kind of Indie 500 cameo and then that was your lot. And quite frankly, I think that is for the best because we did see a major uptick in performance when he dedicated himself entirely this season for the Alpine A424 instead of him playing double duty with that particular project as well was him being the main Mercedes Reserve driver as well as the potential reserve driver of all of the Mercedes customer teams. And based on his own initial impressions of India car, he had fun. He didn’t find any difficulty. He didn’t find the lack of power steering all that bothersome. The only major thing he had a bit of an issue with was transitioning himself out of the pit lane and onto the track. Just trying to work his pit exit etiquette. Okay, drinking game. Whenever law stands, Mick, take a drink. Sorry, I was slacking there. As for the times themselves, they weren’t bad. Apparently, third out of the seven in attenders, only behind established drivers like Alex Rossy and NXT member and fellow F2 veteran Dennis Halga. Both of which have plenty more experience than the German. And times might have been faster still had the timing loop been working properly throughout the day. And of course the team in question Rahal Letterman Lenigan needs to have a seat ready for whoever gets it, be it Schumaca or otherwise. But an additional from the publication Racer was quite a notable tell as to the desire of team RLL for the exposure which Indie Car themselves milked for all that it was worth going as far as superimposing mixed the Honda machine next to his father’s Ferrari over the brick clad finish line. As soon as I saw that, I’m thinking, “Oh my god, Indie Car, you’re not even hiding it. You really want this to happen.” And something tells me that you are going to make this happen as some kind of means to really push yourself into Europe. Well, I mean, especially since the framer project has really bitten the dust. In fact, there are plenty of rumors suggesting that that entire team is up for sale. But anyway, I would like to cut out an excerpt from the races article from Marshall Puit for your consideration which really emphasizes that this was not something that Mix Team put together on the last minute sort of affair. This was orchestrated him. RLL has gone to great lengths to arrange and fund the test for shoeacker. bring Honda Racing Corporation US into the effort to provide valuable time on its DRL that I think is a driver and loop system and to surround the son of seventime F1 champion Michael Schumaca with all the mechanical and engineering talent RLL has to offer with technical director Todd Mallaloy, race engineer Ives Turo and engineering R&D leader David Crys in attendance on Monday. Team co-owner David Letterman even said he wanted to stop by which almost never happens for a test. It’s too early to say whether Schumaca will join Graeme Rayal and Louis Foster next season, but it’s clear that both sides have broached the subject as a possibility if the test and terms meet their expectations. Yeah. So, there you go. Mick didn’t have to buy his way into a test. All of this makes me think that RLL treated this like a genuine recruitment push, not some kind of folly on Schumacer’s part. They funded this team, the whole thing. They brought Honda into the mix as well with their own equipment and they got the senior crew members on site to actually see it and even their celebrity owner took an interest in a test session. He was able to prove that hey, he’s not all that far off against the faster test members. He wasn’t seconds off the pace. He gave it his all. He seemed quite level-headed. He didn’t milk it. It was Indie Car themselves who milked it. Schumaca himself was like, “Yeah, I like the car. It’s pretty easy. I liked it. I had fun. Yeah. Let’s see if it goes anywhere. He wasn’t going like, “Oh, yeah. I was born for this. I was made for it. Oh, Indica, love me, baby.” He had fun. He liked the old school nature. And all of this language and rhetoric surely appeals to all the Americans out there. If you’re American, did what Mick Schumaca say about Indie Car and his test really make you feel like, “Yeah, I v with that guy.” Now, if you’re an indie car fan, just get your foam of doubts at the ready here. Uh, is it quite rare for indie car teams to bankroll tests with drivers? Is it? Is it? Because I can imagine that most drivers would have to bring their own money to these particular tests as this could be a source of income for these operations since, well, there isn’t much money involved in operating an indie car team as well as it being much cheaper than a Formula 1 operation. But it does make me think that Ray Howal, Ledman, Lanigan is planning something. They want this to happen. They just needed Mick to show he had the performance to justify their thoughts. And I think the performance box got a major tick in that regard. But it seems like from the racer article especially that both parties that being RLL and Mick have broached a 2026 deal if the test and terms align and as Schemecka felt like Indie Car was a worthwhile change of pace. It does feel like a real offer is being discussed, but it needed the times on the board first before going any further. And quite frankly, I do think this will go ahead, especially for the fact that it is with a wellestablished team and not with something like Pramer, who again, according to rumors, their commitment to Indie Car after just one year in the sport might be called into doubt, and I don’t need the foam for that. So, basically what I’m trying to say here, and I don’t think I need the Capicopium for this, is that this was a proper audition with courtship intent. They were wooing Mick and Mick was going like, “Let’s have a second date.” I don’t think this is some kind of one and done thing during the offseason of Indie Car to try and drum up some hype before the long dark tea time of winter before you start off again in March. And I think if the terms are realistic and that this team can provide him a competitive car, so that means he’s not completely off the back. Mick will probably take at least one year in Indie Car over another season in World Endurance. Why? Well, it’s down to the language that Schumac has said that he really likes the idea of racing open wheelers, that he feels like he can could be quicker in them, and that maybe Indie Car might be the best stepping stone available to him instead of doing World Endurance where it’s a closed cockpit with four wheels that are enclosed or going to Super Formula in Japan where even though it is improving on an international stage, it’s still got some ways to go. is very much a domestic series with people overseas going like, “Oh, what’s that? Oh, okay.” And as I alluded to earlier with the old school vibe, his peaceful motorsport.com exerpts much more of that. That having more races 17 to Wex 8 meant there were more opportunities perhaps to get out there and go for it rather than spend weeks in a simulator and planning out strategim for a multi-hour marathon that could finish after just a couple of corners if everything goes wrong every couple of months. They basically had their own qualities, but Indie Car seems to track better with the German. I just get the impression that at this moment in time, Mick wants to really gel with an organization which is really down to earth, familyrun especially that just simply want to get the best result possible. They all band in together. There’s a sense of unity where he is at the center of it all and they’re all aiming for one common goal. The narrative seems to be really playing with the German ride now that it’s a case of rebuilding. It very much tracks with the emphasis that his management team have been trying to do. Hey, he didn’t survive in F1 for that long, but look at what he’s doing in world endurance. He’s committed himself to Alpine. He’s a hard worker, and you want hard workers when you’re setting yourself up. So, why don’t you give it a go with Mick? All of which with relatively straightforward technology when you compare itself to Formula 1 with all of the trappings and politics there. And sure, with brand new cars and indie car, it could get a little bit more complex. But right now, it seems a lot more straightforward and a little bit more, as he says one more time, old school. And that is a very big debate within Formula 1 at the moment with the idea of racing being lost in the midst of entertainment. And whilst I’m okay to adapt to it, and I’m showing that I’m not some old commod which goes, back in the day, it is not the same. It we were saying this in 2000 that this one’s not the same as it was back in my day. It happens. I’m pretty sure that people in 1980 were going, “No, this is not like it was back in the day 1960.” People in 2040 will be going, “Nah, it’s not like it was back in the day of 2020.” But look, Mick had fun out there, and that’s what matters. Indie is gaining traction internationally, and his name could be an asset for it, and he too could get the best out of it since it’s an open wheel series within a country which he loves, and it could provide a very important shot in the arm regarding his reputation with people who simply vibe with open wheels. Granted, there is plenty more to go in terms of development. This was a firsttime foray with Alto Motorto and Sport also calculating that based on mixed lap times from the test around his best time would have been good on the day for the actual race 23rd out of 27. That’s not front running pace, but nor is it woefully off the back. Yeah, it just shows there’s some way to go, but it means that the only way is up really. It’s not a case of, oh, okay, we now have to fill in 2 seconds between 27th and 26th, and then maybe we can go for 25th. No, this is going, okay, top 20 time, top 10 time, top five time. Yeah, it it all progresses. And again, indie car drivers can go well into their 30s and in some cases with their 40s. So, there is plenty of time for improvement. But if you couldn’t tell, I must again declare my bias. I am a mixan. And even though I am using every fiber of my being and this cup to make this move happen, when you actually stop and put this down and think about it, given where he is wanting to ultimately get back to Formula 1, this does seem Indie Car a viable solution. Indie Car might suit his temperament. Hands-on, hardworking, refreshingly human. The irony is delicious though, since this is the series his father once dismissed, and it might be the one where his son finds his stride. If he signs though, I’ll be watching. And if you still don’t believe me, then believe this. I must stress this out to you. This Indie car outfit paid for Mick to be here. They wanted this to happen. Mick did not come begging and gave them a bag of cash. Honda helped out with this. Indie Car have been marketing this up the wazoo. And what helped all of that and what helped all of that pomp and circumstance is that mixed time was the third fastest behind Rossy and Halga who already have plenty of experience within that field. This is not some kind of po outfit who allows Mick Schumaca to lap 6 seconds behind everyone else but just that means he got some time in a car just to provide him a little bit of you know interesting fun. And I think what it also says is this is the beginning of a charm offensive. That Mick is here to show America first and foremost that he is wanting to get involved in this. That if he gets a seat, he will dedicate his life and soul toward it. He’s not going to halfass this. And I think that that kind of work ethic will go down very well in rural America. And I think if you just strip the name away from all of this, I think the personality of the guy is something that everyone will really abide by. And think about it. If Mick does land a full-time indie car seat, it would mean that every shoeacker generation to touch top tier motorsport, father, uncle, son has done it in completely different continents, engines, and eras. But it can easily transcend different racing cultures that if you stick a shoeer in a car that they can just go, “Oh, yeah, I can make this work.” And then just watch it unfold. It’s really worth taking a fresh look at Mick. And once again, he didn’t crash it. And now for the sake of the bit, you got to commit. And I think you should take a fresh look at this video or a first look. YouTube and I think you will like it. I’ll see you over there.