Mick Schumacher shuts down speculation about his F1 future

Agencies | London                                                                          

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Mick Schumacher shut out speculation about his Formula One future yesterday as his friend Esteban Ocon continued to push for the German to join him at Renault-owned Alpine as replacement for Fernando Alonso.

Schumacher, son of seven-times world champion Michael, is out of contract with the Ferrari-powered Haas team at the end of the season when he could also leave the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA).

“What is being discussed behind the scenes between us is something I’d rather keep between us,” the German said at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort when asked about his future at Haas and FDA.

“That’s contractual matters which I can’t go into detail with,” he added. The Formula One rumour mill has gone into overdrive since Spain’s double world champion Alonso announced a month ago that he would be leaving Alpine for Aston Martin at the end of the year.

Alpine announced reserve driver Oscar Piastri as his replacement but the Australian said he would not be racing for them. McLaren -- linked to Piastri -- have meanwhile announced a split with Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who joined them from Renault, at the end of 2022.

The game of ‘who goes where?’ has shifted week by week, with the latest rumours linking AlphaTauri’s French driver Pierre Gasly with the Alpine seat in what would be an all-French lineup. Gasly has a contract with his Red Bull-owned team for 2023, however.