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  Debate

Debate

Is Mick Schumacher being unfairly sidelined in F1, or is Jack Doohan the better choice for Alpine?

If Formula 1 is a world-class sport now, then German legend Michael Schumacher has had a hand in making it so famous. However, Michael’s son Mick has found it difficult to grab a seat in F1. Having won the Formula 2 Championship in 2020, Mick Schumacher looked well on his way towards achieving the same heights that his father had achieved decades ago in Formula 1. And impressed by the records of Mick in the junior racing leagues, Haas leader Guenther Steiner took him up.

At the 2021 Bahrain GP, Mick Schumacher first stepped into F1. But his start to a career in the highest league of motorsports was nothing like Michael’s. Mick scored only 12 career points in two years for Haas. Naturally, the Team Principal of the North Carolina-based outfit decided to oust the German prodigy to take up Nico Hulkenberg in his place. This led to Mick losing out on the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Formula 1 as he could not find a regular racing seat. And now he sees a chance to re-enter F1 through Alpine.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon announced his exit from the team earlier this year. The Frenchman will move to Haas for a stint with the American squad while Alpine needs to hire his replacement. So, the Enstone team has Mick Schumacher as one of its options. The junior Schumi has been acting in a reserve role at Mercedes till now while also racing for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship. However, FIA commissioner Johnny Herbert has given some insider info on whether Mick can land the job at Alpine.

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via Reuters

Herbert has an ominous take on Mick Schumacher’s chances of an F1 entry. The Briton told Marca, “Mick is not on anyone’s shopping list. Nobody wants him in F1.” But why doesn’t the team in the franchise want to hire the son of the greatest racer ever in terms of Championship wins? Well, it might be because Mick Schumacher could not beat Kevin Magnussen in 2022. Johnny Herbert said, “It is detrimental to a driver’s career not to be able to beat your teammate. Mick couldn’t do it.”

But if Mick is not a favorite choice, Alpine needs to choose someone else for their 2025 campaign. So, who could that be?

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Alpine might promote its reserve driver Jack Doohan to Ocon’s post

Alpine is facing a massive restructuring going into the 2025 season. With Esteban Ocon leaving, it needs to hire a new member for next year’s campaign. On the other hand, it has roped in Flavio Briatore as the advisor to the CEO of Renault, Alpine’s parent body. As per Briatore’s guidance, Carlos Sainz looked like a good candidate for the Enstone outfit. However, the current Ferrari star tossed a job offer from Briatore to take up a place at Williams. This leaves Jack Doohan on the top of the list now.

What’s your perspective on:

Is Mick Schumacher being unfairly sidelined in F1, or is Jack Doohan the better choice for Alpine?

Have an interesting take?

via Reuters

Doohan raced for Invicta at the F2 2023 Championship where he came third. The former Red Bull junior signed with Alpine’s academy in ’22 and has been looking for a seat in F1 recently. And now, he stands the best chance of capturing Esteban Ocon’s seat. In fact, the son of Mick Doohan, the 5-time 500cc World Champion, has already tested for Alpine recently against Mick Schumacher and had come out with better results than the German.

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Thus, it looks like Mick Schumacher will be spending a third season away from Formula 1 in 2025. But do you think any of the other teams will give him a chance to switch this fate anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.