As Mick Schumacher continues his quest for a Formula One cockpit for the 2025 season, his former team boss Guenther Steiner, who managed Schumacher during his time at Haas F1, has made comments that could hamper the young driver’s prospects.

Steiner, now an RTL pundit, has publicly advised Alpine against signing Schumacher, the son of the legendary Michael Schumacher.

In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Mick Schumacher began his Formula One career with the Haas team under the guidance of Guenther Steiner. This period marked Schumacher’s entry into the pinnacle of motorsport.

However, the partnership between Schumacher and Steiner was fraught with tension and lasted no more than two seasons. Ultimately, Haas, influenced by Steiner’s dissatisfaction with Schumacher, decided not to renew the young driver’s contract.

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Current status of Mick Schumacher

Since then, 25-year-old Mick Schumacher has been without a full-time F1 seat for over a year and a half. However, he remains determined to resurrect his F1 career. Schumacher is currently a reserve and simulator driver for Mercedes and a regular competitor in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the Alpine WEC team.

These roles keep him in the racing spotlight and keep his dream of returning to F1 alive.

Alpine has emerged as a potential future destination for Schumacher. Bruno Famin, the team boss at Alpine, recently expressed optimism about Schumacher’s chances. In an interview with Sky, Famin remarked, “Everything is open, everybody is talking to everybody”, highlighting the openness of discussions regarding Schumacher’s possible inclusion in the team for the 2025 season.

Famin also insisted that it would be a mistake not to consider Schumacher, although he made it clear that there is no definitive “ranking” on the list of Alpine candidates.

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Alpine in chaos

The Alpine Formula One team is currently facing significant challenges. The team’s car is said to be overweight and a number of senior staff have either been sacked or have chosen to leave the team, unhappy with Renault’s management. This internal turmoil has not gone unnoticed, and when the team decided to sign Pierre Gasly, many in the paddock raised their eyebrows, especially given the tumultuous history between him and Esteban Ocon.

Despite the controversies, having two French drivers at the helm of the only French team in F1 seemed to be a boon for marketing and national pride. However, the recent downgrade of the French government’s credit rating seems to reflect the team’s decline in the sport.

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Bad blood continues

The tension was palpable at the launch of Alpine’s 2023 F1 challenger. Esteban Ocon made it clear he was less than thrilled with his new teammate, stating: “I don’t think we’ll ever be best friends, but that doesn’t really matter as long as the atmosphere in the team is great, and that’s how it is at the moment and will remain throughout the year.”

Ocon has a reputation for intra-team conflict, a trait highlighted by former teammate Fernando Alonso, who sarcastically referred to him as “our friend” over the team radio. During the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix, commentator Paul di Resta noted that Ocon has had difficulties with several teammates, including Sergio Perez.

The most recent notable incident occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix when Esteban Ocon’s reckless move on Gasly resulted in significant damage to both cars, although Gasly managed to salvage a point for the team.

 

 

Shocking Monaco result with ‘consequences’ 

At Monaco, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon has now been told he will face repercussions following a costly first lap collision with Formula One teammate Pierre Gasly. The incident, which took place at the iconic Portier corner, has not only drawn the ire of team principal Bruno Famin, but has also resulted in a significant penalty for Ocon. This could well be the opening for former F1 driver Mick Schumacher to return to the paddock, this time driving for the Alpine team.

The collision, which sent Ocon’s car into the air and ended his race prematurely, was deemed by the stewards to be the result of an overly ambitious overtaking attempt. As a result, Ocon was handed a 10-second penalty, which translates into a five-place grid drop for the upcoming race in Canada. The stewards’ statement was unequivocal: “It was clear to us that the collision was caused solely by an overly ambitious overtaking attempt from too far back.”

In the aftermath, Ocon issued an apology on social media, admitting that he was at fault for the collision and that the gap he was aiming for was indeed too small. However, his remorse does not mitigate the consequences of his actions, both on and off the track.

Speaking to Canal+ television, boss of the Renault Alpine outfit, Bruno Famin, expressed his disappointment at the incident.

“It’s sad, this kind of incident. It’s exactly what we didn’t want to see. And there will be the appropriate consequences,” Famin said, hinting at internal disciplinary action that could be in store for Ocon.

 

 

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Schumacher back in F1?

Esteban Ocon’s first-lap collision with team-mate Pierre Gasly has not only resulted in immediate penalties, but could also affect Alpine’s future driver line-up. The incident could provide an opportunity for Schumacher to step back into the F1 spotlight, a possibility not ruled out by Alpine team boss Bruno Famin.

Ocon’s collision with Portier resulted in team Principal Bruno Famin’s comments suggesting internal consequences for Ocon, but his statements on the sidelines of the Monaco Grand Prix also gave Mick Schumacher a glimmer of hope.

“Everything is open, everyone is talking to everyone,” Famin told Sky Sports, referring to Schumacher’s possible return to F1. The Alpine boss insisted it would be a mistake not to consider Schumacher for a future seat.

“Sure, it would be a mistake not to have him on the list,” he said, although he made it clear that there is no fixed order of candidates.

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Steiner’s stern warning about Schumacher

Despite the hopes of Schumacher fans, Guenther Steiner, who has since been sacked by Haas, has strongly advised against signing Schumacher by Alpine.

In a candid discussion on ‘The Red Flags Podcast’, Steiner issued a stern warning to Famin. Asked if he would recommend giving Schumacher a chance, Steiner was unequivocal: “Not at the moment, no”.

He went on to say: “I think, as I said, that Alpine needs the best driver out there.”

This statement was a direct criticism of Schumacher, implying that he had not sufficiently demonstrated his talent during his time at Haas.

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Alternative suggestions from Steiner

Steiner did not stop at advising against Schumacher. He suggested alternative drivers for Alpine to consider. Specifically, he mentioned Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari in 2025 to make way for Lewis Hamilton, as the best available driver.

However, Steiner admitted that Sainz is unlikely to join Alpine. As a more viable option, Steiner suggested Yuki Tsunoda, emphasising the importance for a factory team like Alpine to secure top-level talent.

Mick Schumacher’s path back to a full-time F1 seat is fraught with challenges, not least the public disapproval of his former team boss Guenther Steiner. While Alpine remains a beacon of hope for Schumacher, the team’s decision-makers will have to weigh Steiner’s warnings against the potential Schumacher still possesses.

The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Schumacher’s persistence and current efforts in the WEC will translate into a return to the F1 grid.

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