Mick Schumacher rules out Formula 1: “I’m driving IndyCars to stay”

There will be no Formula 1 comeback for Mick Schumacher. The 2016 F1 World Championship 16th-placed finisher (with Haas) is trying his luck in America; he is completing his first IndyCar season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2026, finished in the top ten for the first time in Nashville (in eighth place) and is currently 24th in the overall standings.

Schumacher is learning the hard way in America, but Mick is enjoying it, and he clearly states his commitment to his future in the US on the Speed Street podcast.

Mick says: “Nashville was the first really clean race. We had no issues with the impact wrenches, we had no problems in the pits, there were no collisions with opponents or anything else.”

With plenty of experience on conventional circuits and street circuits, one might think that’s where the Formula 2 champion’s strengths lie, but Mick says: “Oval tracks probably suit my driving style better. I’m particularly sensitive to tyre wear, precisely because of what we used to have in Europe back then. I therefore think that works in my favour on an oval, because you have to drive so precisely and have that special feel for the grip limit.”

Schumacher suffered a fractured wrist in a crash at the IndyCar season opener in St Petersburg (Florida), “I’m still carrying this injury around with me, which isn’t exactly helpful,” says Mick.

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“As far as our pace is concerned, we were more or less on the mark, but it’s always been down to minor issues here and there that have made it difficult for us in the races so far to demonstrate our true potential. Our results don’t really reflect what we’re actually capable of.”

Mick Schumacher is committed to IndyCar: “I really like IndyCar, and I’m here in America to stay.”

It’s not yet clear which team that will be. Mick continues: “We’re in talks; it’s important to evaluate all your options and see where it might be a good fit. As a racing driver, it’s not just about the car, but also about the human connections – in my opinion, even more so.”

“Because you can only win as a team – and specifically with a team you really click with, with whom you can forge a bond. That will be a bigger factor in the decision-making process than simply finding a seat in a promising car. If you’re with the right people, the results will follow naturally.”

The IndyCar season continues on 16 August with the race on the street circuit in Markham (Ontario, Canada).