Former F1 star confirms 'positive' talks over return to grid

Young driver Mick Schumacher has confirmed that he has been holding talks with Cadillac over a potential return to the F1 grid next year.

The 26-year-old spent two seasons on the grid with Haas in 2021 and 2022, but found himself out of a job after costing the team too much money via the sheer number of times he put his car in the wall.

The German then found himself at Mercedes, taking up the reserve driver role, explaining at the time how much he was enjoying learning from another seven-time world champion in Lewis Hamilton.

However, in 2024, the youngster opted to chase a full-time racing seat in another series, joining the world endurance championship (WEC) with Alpine, where he has remained for the 2025 season too.

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Schumacher has claimed two podium finishes in the series in 2025, but has made it clear that his priority is to rejoin the F1 grid, with rumours linking him to Alpine due to his links with the team via their WEC programme.

Now, however, Schumacher has revealed that he is a candidate for the new Cadillac team, admitting that he has engaged in talks with the team.

Cadillac are set to join the grid in 2026, opening up two new seats on the F1 grid, and team principal Graeme Lowdon has suggested that talks are ongoing with a number of different drivers.

"Yes, obviously talks are taking place," Schumacher told Motorsport.com. "Communication has been very positive.

"It's a great project, there's a fantastic amount of people they've already hired for it, it's an incredible project, a great story. So it's something I feel honoured to be part of, negotiating, and it's a great position to be in."

Who will drive for Cadillac in 2026?

Schumacher is thought to be on an extensive list of drivers of all different experiences, including the likes of Zhou Guanyu, Colton Herta, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

With 16 grands prix victories between them and a wealth of experience, Bottas and Perez are thought to be the favourites for the two seats, but Alpine are also rumoured to be preparing a swoop for Bottas to replace youngster Franco Colapinto.

A partnership of Bottas and Perez would mean a union of the two supporting cast members of the thrilling 2021 world championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Perez helped his Red Bull team-mate to claim drivers' title success for the first time that year, while Bottas' performances were enough to clinch Mercedes the constructors' championship.

Compared to those two, Schumacher doesn't have the experience to make him a safe bet for Cadillac in their first season, but he does have 43 grands prix starts under his belt, and earned 12 points in his final season in the sport in 2022.

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