Schumacher Shifts Gears: Former F1 Driver Eyes IndyCar Future After Impressive Test

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 23:30 IST

Mick Schumacher impressed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, topping IndyCar test laps on the same track where Michael Schumacher once dominated.

Mick Schmacher gets a taste of IndyCar Racing (X)

Mick Schumacher is keeping his options open — and IndyCar might just be calling.

The 26-year-old son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher turned heads at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, taking his first laps in an IndyCar on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

It was the same circuit layout where his father once dominated, though it’s since been modified from its F1 days.

Schumacher drove the No. 75 Honda and impressed onlookers by clocking the fastest lap among a group that included Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, and Dennis Hauger during the first three hours of testing.

“I’ve been interested in doing a test in Indy for a while now," Schumacher said after his run.

“I did see some of the guys that race full-time at some of the F1 events across the past two years and they always said how fun it was. So I just wanted to see what the car felt like."

A Fresh Start After F1 Struggles

For Schumacher, the Indy test comes at a crossroads in his career. Once hailed as one of F1’s most promising young drivers, the 2020 Formula 2 champion made his Formula 1 debut with Haas in 2021.

But two turbulent seasons — marred by inconsistency and costly crashes — saw him dropped from the grid at the end of 2022.

He later joined Mercedes as a reserve driver but has yet to find a full-time seat. With most 2026 F1 spots already locked in, Schumacher is looking elsewhere to keep his single-seater career alive.

“IndyCar comes the closest to what I can still race," he said. “I can’t go back to F2 because I won a championship. IndyCar might be a good option.

“Obviously, my target the past couple of years has been to go back to F1, but that option hasn’t quite opened up. So, at some point I want to race again in single-seaters, and therefore this option is a good one."

A Schumacher at Indy — Again

The test was a full-circle moment of sorts. The Indianapolis road course was once a staple on the Formula 1 calendar — a track Michael Schumacher won five times between 2000 and 2006.

While Mick was too young to remember attending any of his father’s U.S. races, the symbolic link wasn’t lost on fans or the driver himself.

(with AP inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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