Alpine emerged as the ‘element of surprise’ at the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, also known as Le Mans. Well, this came out of nowhere. The team that was struggling to get points, is suddenly competing in the leading group. And one of the Alpine A424s even made it to the hyperbole! The A424s failed to reach the 3:30 mark and finished 17th and 20th respectively, on the test day. But as it looks, the tables have now turned.

However, despite the positive outcomes, team boss Philippe Sinault told MOTORSPORT-TOTAL, “Sunday was really tough for us.” But the allegations of sandbagging made by other teams haven’t impacted their high spirits. “They can say what they want. But we know how we have improved,” remarked a charged-up Sinault.

On the other hand, Mick Schumacher, who is one of the two outliers in an all-French Alpine, believes their team felt comfortable from the start, despite a slow one. And one might say,  Schumacher is one of the favorites in the sport. He carries the hopes and expectations of many, especially because of his family name. Moreover, Mick Schumacher is the one in the Alpine who has Grand Prix experience, and even the only winner of any single-seater World Championship.

After a disappointing two-year tenure at Haas, he relishes group efforts with multiple drivers on each car. But now, the questions remain: Is Mick trying to prove himself capable of being in an F1 car in 2025? Will there be a potential F1 seat for him at Alpine, if not at Mercedes?

Mick Schumacher’s potential return in F1, but first, ‘attack’ Le Mans with Alpine

With Fred Vasseur in the Ferrari garage and the Alpine F1 team drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon in the Alpine garage, Mick has quite an audience for himself. And it won’t be too much of an exaggeration to say, but Mick might be desperate to show his abilities. With the recent rumors around his F1 comeback, the ‘alleged’ criticism from Guenther Steiner, and him being a reserved driver from Mercedes F1 for the past two years, Schumacher would be eager to be the drama’s main character, and not the bit player, for once.

Following his father’s footsteps in enduro racing, Mick will race for Alpine at Le Mans this weekend. During his exchange with Motorsport Magazine, he was asked what he thinks about extending the family’s legacy in endurance racing. “Not at all,  enables me to keep my Mercedes reserve driver role and keep racing – since WEC has such increased competition, it’s a great place for me to show what I can do,” Mick Schumacher responded. As for now, there is no better place to show his capabilities behind the steering wheel than in Le Mans.

But can his proven brilliance in the endurance race cause miracles for Schumacher? A Ferrari dream, kept alive, can be realized if only Fred Vasseur’s mind is stirred by Schumacher’s resilience and determination. The son of German legend and seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher has recently stirred the attention of the F1 community towards himself.

With comeback rumors and commendable performance at Le Mans over the past few years, his career might get a positive trajectory soon. Now, all eyes will be on Alpine, who has emerged as a competitor at the 2024 WEC races. It is a weekend full of excitement and thrill and the intensity of endurance racing. This could be a turning point for Mick Schumacher.

What are your opinions on this? Let us know in the comments.