
Mick Schumacher confirms he IS in talks to return to Formula One as son of legendary driver Michael plots surprise comeback after being dumped in 2022
The German driver has not raced in F1 since leaving Haas in 2022, and was replaced by Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes' reserve driver at the end of last season.
However, with General Motors-backed team Cadillac set to join the grid in March of next year, Schumacher is one of the many drivers currently without a seat vying to drive the new car on the block.
Sergio Perez and Bottas are said to be the frontrunners for the two open seats, with both without a place on the grid currently.
But they are just two of many candidates in the running, and Schumacher - who now drives in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine - has revealed that he has held 'positive' conversations with team principal Graeme Lowdon, calling the Cadillac project 'incredible'.
The 26-year-old told Motorsport.com: 'Yes, of course, discussions are ongoing. The communication has been very positive so far.
'They've already hired a fantastic number of people for it [the project]. It's an honour to be part of it, to negotiate with them, and a great position to be in.'
Lowdon, who previously ran the Manor F1 team in its various forms in the early 2010s, also confirmed that discussions with Schumacher had taken place while on the High Performance podcast.
'Yeah, we're talking to Mick,' said Lowdon with a huge grin on his face.
Many thought that Schumacher's chance in F1 had already passed when he was booted from the Haas team, with an array of talented young drivers overtaking him in the pecking order.
Nonetheless, Lowdon was full of praise for the son of seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, even if he is one of many in with a shout of a seat at Cadillac next season.
'Mick is great,' Lowdon told Sky Deutschland. 'He's a very nice guy, I like him a lot. I've got to know him better now.
'He's still young, but he already has Formula 1 experience. Of course, that was a while ago, but he's kept himself up to date.
'We really like that. We really like that. He is no stranger to the team. He knows where we stand. There are some positive things to say about Mick.
'He is clearly one of the drivers on the list. But I should also say that the list is quite long.'
Bottas has been one of the names floated about when discussing who may drive for the Ferrari-powered team, and Lowdon has confirmed that talks with the Mercedes reserve driver have also taken place.
However, the team principal was keen to make it known that he does not want the likes of Schumacher and Bottas to join just to prove they are still worthy of a seat, but to help the team succeed in its rookie year.
Continuing on the High Performance Podcast, he said: 'Everyone wants to prove something else again. I never look at that as the biggest motivator.
'Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point. Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like.
'For someone to prove what they can do for sure, but it's not the vehicle to show the world, prove a point, or whatever.
'The driver is there to do the best that they possibly can for their team, and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. So, I'm less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point.'
When asked about the prospect of Perez joining the cause, Lowdon did not want to rule any driver out of the running.
'Every single person, every name that you're going to read out, we're talking to everyone because everyone wants the drive.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ella Toone says Lionesses ‘nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman with late Euro 2025 heroics
Midfielder Ella Toone joked England Women 'nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman en route to the Euro 2025 final. In reaching the final, against Spain, Wiegman reached an unprecedented fifth straight major tournament final. No head coach in the men's or women's game has ever achieved that feat before the 55-year-old Dutchwoman. She could now secure a hat-trick of European championship trophies after winning with the Netherlands in 2017, then England in 2022. The Lionesses ' title defence thus far could hardly be described as smooth, requiring two consecutive stunning comebacks in the knockouts, but they have somehow still found themselves a win against the World Cup holders away from the second major trophy in their history. 'I think we've nearly killed her twice this tournament,' said Toone. 'She's said we've definitely aged her, but five consecutive tournaments for Sarina being in the final and that's just unbelievable. 'We know we're in good hands, we know she's a manager who can take teams right to the final, and she's done a few good speeches to be fair, this camp, I'll give it to her. 'She's a great manager, she's someone who we all have a lot of belief in, and we know we're in good hands. 'We know when we go out onto the pitch we fight for each other, but we fight for her and the staff too, and all the fans watching as well, but I mean, unbelievable achievement for Sarina and for the team, too.' Right-back Lucy Bronze, the oldest member of Wiegman's squad at 33, is also poised to make history on Sunday – which would be her 36th major-tournament appearance – to surpass Jill Scott on England's all-time list. 'She's a legend. She's an absolute beast,' said Toone. 'She just played back-to-back 120 minutes. That shows something, and that's something that us younger players and people in the team can really look up to.' Spain beat England 1-0 to secure the World Cup trophy two summers ago and might be the favourites, but Toone is certain the Lionesses have all the tools to claim their first trophy away from home. She added: 'We've spoken about it quite a lot this camp, a proper English performance. I think we have it in us all, individually and as a team, that we want to fight. 'We want to not stop running. You've seen that in games where sometimes you might feel like we're down and out, and it's 90-odd minutes, and then someone comes on and we have one moment, and we take that moment, and that's what it's all about. 'It's the squad depth, it's players having that belief that they can come on and really change the game, but I think it's all in us individually that we're competitive and we want to win, and we know what it takes to win tournaments. 'That's what we managed to do, and that's what's got us to a third consecutive final.'


Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New York Giants guard with iconic SNF intro adored by fans retires from football at 35
Former New York Giants first round pick Justin Pugh has announced his retirement from the NFL. The offensive guard and Pennsylvania native, who turns 35 in mid-August, announced his intentions to retire from the sport as a member of the team that picked him. Pugh, who gained popularity for his humorous 'Sunday Night Football' intro in October 2023, admitted he wanted to come back for one more season. 'I've played here six of my 11 years in the NFL,' Pugh said. 'Not many players get to go out on their terms, and after 11 years playing in the NFL, I am officially retiring from the league. 'I thought I was going to do another one, but just didn't have it in the tank. I started losing weight and started feeling good, and didn't want to do a 12th year. 'But like every little boy, I always dreamed of playing in the NFL ... I definitely never planned on making a block so Eli (Manning) could throw the ball down the field. Justin Pugh keeping it real in his first game back 😂 @JustinPugh 📺: #NYGvsBUF on NBC 📱: Stream on #NFLPlus — NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2023 'I never dreamed of being an offensive lineman. I don't think any little boys are out there right now being like, 'Let me pass set and block in the playoffs to make something happen.' 'What I realized, offensive line was the position that was for me. I was built perfectly for it, and it's something that you don't choose. 'Everyone wants to be that star position, but it's something that really defined me as a man, as a father and as a teammate.' Pugh last took the field in the 2023 season - taking part in 12 games after overcoming a significant knee injury. In that 'Sunday Night Football' matchup in Orchard Park, New York against the Buffalo Bills, Pugh greeted the audience by saying he came from 'straight off the couch'. Pugh was picked by the Giants 19th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft after a four-year tenure at Syracuse University. He played five years with the Giants before spending his next five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. His last season with the Cardinals ended after five games due to a torn ACL. Pugh then returned to the Giants for one more season in 2023 and did not take the field in 2024.


BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Messi suspended after skipping MLS All-Star game
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba have been given one-match bans for skipping Major League Soccer's All-Star game earlier this players missed Wednesday's match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement on a result, the duo will now miss Miami's home league fixture against FC Cincinnati on commissioner Don Garber said suspending Messi was a "very difficult decision". "I know Lionel Messi loves this league," he added. "I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for MLS than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision."Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game and we had to enforce it."Argentina legend Messi, 38, has scored 18 goals in as many appearances for Javier Mascherano's side in the MLS this season, while Alba, 36, has featured 19 times in the duo, who also played together at Barcelona from 2012 to 2021, were also part of the Miami side's run to the quarter-finals of the Fifa Club World their exit from the tournament at the hands of eventual finalists Paris St-Germain, Miami have played five matches this month with Messi scoring eight to ESPN earlier in the day, Miami head coach Mascherano said forward "showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing.""Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days."