Schumacher sends defiant F1 message: ‘I have no doubt I could keep up’

Mick Schumacher has still not given up on his F1 dream, despite the 2025 season marking three years since he last competed in the championship.

The 25-year-old insists he has a "score to settle" with the series and wants the opportunity to prove himself again.

Having won the 2020 F2 championship, the German stepped into F1 with Haas in 2021, lasting two seasons before being replaced by compatriot Nico Hulkenberg.

Whilst his debut campaign was in uncompetitive machinery, Schumacher easily out-classed the painfully over-matched Nikita Mazepin alongside him.

However, his second and final campaign saw the returning Kevin Magnussen comfortably out-perform him, with his penchant for heavy and costly accidents proving too much for Haas to stomach.

Now, over two years on from losing his seat at the American team, he is still finding his way back to a full-time drive in F1.

"I decided at the age of eleven that I wanted to drive there [in F1]," Schumacher told German publication Bild am Sonntag. "That is still my goal, that series was and is my lifelong dream. 

"I still have a score to settle with Formula 1 and want to prove myself there once again."

Schumacher to focus on WEC but has no doubts about F1 ability

Having dovetailed being Mercedes' F1 reserve driver and racing in Alpine's WEC programme, Schumacher was overlooked for Esteban Ocon's seat at the latter, which went to childhood friend Jack Doohan instead.

Having also missed out on a drive at Stake, ahead of it transitioning into the works Audi team in 2026, he realised he had "clung too much to plan A" over the past couple of seasons.

Deciding to step away from his Mercedes role, Schumacher will continue with Alpine in WEC over the campaign ahead, acknowledging it is good to have "some distance from Formula 1" for a while.

"I want to make a name for myself with my performance in the WEC. I know that I have what it takes," he added.

Nonetheless, he maintains he would be able to perform in F1 if given the opportunity. "Everyone who drives in Formula 1 has talent, no question about it," Schumacher stated. "But when I look at the grid, I have no doubt that I could keep up. I'm no worse."