Mick Schumacher has revealed that he did consider a switch to either IndyCar or Super Formula for 2024, but ruled them out to allow him to continue as Mercedes reserve.
After leaving Haas at the end of 2022, Schumacher signed as the Mercedes reserve for 2023, shadowing Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and sampled the W14 during test sessions.
However, he was unable to find a Grand Prix seat for the 2024 season and agreed a works WEC deal with Alpine in the Hypercar class.
Drivers who can't find F1 race seats often look towards the United States or Japan for their top level single-seater championships IndyCar and Super Formula, respectively.
But while Schumacher did consider both series, he ultimately turned them down, believing the WEC deal would be best suited to being dovetailed with his F1 duties.
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"For [Mercedes], it was very important for me to be back on a race grid and keep that race-craft up to date," Schumacher told media including RacingNews365.
"To be fair, you always think about what's out there, what are the options, and you kind of try and make a pro and contrary list.
"For me, personally, WEC was the one with the least contraries and the most pros, and in the end, it was pretty easy for me to decide that was the challenge I wanted to take.
"I [considered going to Japan] and also considered going west [to IndyCar], but the thing is, if you do that, there's little chance of doing a dual program [with F1]."
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