Vice president of Alpine Motorsport has said Mick Schumacher is too good a driver not to sign for their World Endurance Championship team.
Bruno Famin, vice president of Alpine Motorsport, has sung praises about the newest driver to their WEC team, Mick Schumacher.
Famin suggested that, while announced this week, the plans for him to join were in motion in October.
Given a try-out car to drive in Jerez, Famin was clear it was not a test of his quality.
Speaking to Autosport, he said: “The test was made for him to learn this kind of car because he has made his career so far with open-wheel cars.
“It was for him to discover the endurance world; it was to his own mind to know if he would be happy to have a full programme [with Alpine] or not.”
Famin denied that Schumacher’s performance was under review during the test. He explained the choice was not one by elimination but a “manual and human process”.
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Asked why it wasn’t a question not to sign him, Famin suggested the German driver is vastly underestimated.
“When you are discussing, you don’t defy an opportunity to have him in the team.”
Although struggling in 2022 with Haas, Famin strongly believes the German driver can help Alpine’s venture in WEC.
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He said: “Talking in the F1 paddock with Mick, when you are discussing, you don’t defy an opportunity to have him in the team.
“To have the opportunity to have such a good and fast driver, I don’t see why we would miss it.
“I am convinced that in F1 he is underestimated and don’t forget he is Formula 2 champion, Formula 3 champion. he has a lot of very good skills.”
“If he has the opportunity to drive in F1 to replace George or Lewis, he will go to F1.”
Schumacher is currently a reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 team. However, Famin noted a deal has been struck so that neither team will be negatively affected.
Famin said: “The contract is clear and the agreement with Mick is clear. If he has the opportunity to drive in F1 to replace George or Lewis, he will go to F1.
“He is still a Mercedes reserve driver and he has a very long experience, a very good experience of what is a top-level F1 team. He will bring us some ideas, some methodologies”.
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Schumacher is the latest of the signings to the Alpine team as one of the two newcomers. Ferdinand Habsburg was also announced as part of the line-up of the Alpine/Singatech squad.
Schumacher and Habsburg will be joined by Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere, Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup Chatin.
The combinations of the two cars are yet to be announced. This is due in February when the team launches their 2024 campaign.
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