Mick Schumacher recently had his first experience in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) road course. The 26-year-old, son of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, tested a Honda car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). His arrival in Indianapolis marked a weekend filled with interactions with team owners Bobby Rahal, David Letterman, and Mike Lanigan.
Mick Schumacher’s INDYCAR Ambitions
During his test driving the No. 75 Honda on Monday, Schumacher expressed enthusiasm about the potential of racing in INDYCAR. He compared it to his passion for single-seat racing, a field where opportunities have been scarce since his last F1 race in late 2022. Though he has served as an F1 reserve driver, most of his competitive outings have been in sports cars through the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
INDYCAR vs. Formula One
Schumacher revealed that discussions with current INDYCAR drivers have piqued his interest in the American racing scene. “INDYCAR comes the closest to what I can still race,” he stated during a midday break. He acknowledged the difficulty of returning to Formula 2, which he won in 2020, emphasizing that INDYCAR could be a promising avenue for him.
“It has been my goal to return to Formula One, but the chances have not materialized in recent years,” he added. “At some point, I want to race in single-seaters again, so this option is appealing.”
Veteran Insights and Community
Schumacher has competed against NTT INDYCAR SERIES veterans such as Sebastien Bourdais and Mike Conway in the WEC. He has witnessed the camaraderie and passion for motorsport during events like the Indianapolis 500, which further fueled his interest in joining the series. “It’s a great championship with 17 races,” he noted. “I want to race as much as I can, and the people here live motorsports.”
The Future of Mick Schumacher
- RLL currently fields cars for Graham Rahal, Devlin DeFrancesco, and Rookie of the Year Louis Foster.
- There could be a place for Schumacher within the team if he chooses to commit.
- Schumacher will deliberate on where he envisions his career in 2026.
He expressed that the decision lies largely with him: “We have some time to think about it and explore future opportunities.” He remained open to the possibility of testing on an oval track, a unique perspective given his father’s hesitance about it due to speed and safety concerns.
Schumacher’s day at IMS involved sharing the track with seasoned veterans and INDY NXT participants. While the layout differs from the one his father raced on, he showed genuine excitement about shaping his own legacy at the iconic venue.
In expressing his enjoyment of driving single-seaters, Schumacher remarked, “I want to find where I feel most at home.” Identifying INDYCAR as a potential fit reflects a crucial step in his evolving racing career. “It’s fun driving single-seaters, that’s about it,” he concluded.
