Formula One outcast Mick Schumacher has confirmed he is in talks with newcomers Cadillac regarding a return to the sport for the 2026 season.
The German driver has not raced in F1 since leaving Haas in 2022, and was replaced by Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes’ reserve driver at the end of last season.
However, with General Motors-backed team Cadillac set to join the grid in March of next year, Schumacher is one of the many drivers currently without a seat vying to drive the new car on the block.
Sergio Perez and Bottas are said to be the frontrunners for the two open seats, with both without a place on the grid currently.
But they are just two of many candidates in the running, and Schumacher – who now drives in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine – has revealed that he has held ‘positive’ conversations with team principal Graeme Lowdon, calling the Cadillac project ‘incredible’.
The 26-year-old told Motorsport.com: ‘Yes, of course, discussions are ongoing. The communication has been very positive so far.
Mick Schumacher has revealed that he has held talks with Cadillac regarding a seat on the grid
Team principal Graeme Lowdon is looking for two drivers ahead of the team’s debut in 2026
Valtteri Bottas (left) and Segio Perez (right) are also said to be in the running for a seat
‘They’ve already hired a fantastic number of people for it [the project]. It’s an honour to be part of it, to negotiate with them, and a great position to be in.’
Lowdon, who previously ran the Manor F1 team in its various forms in the early 2010s, also confirmed that discussions with Schumacher had taken place while on the High Performance podcast.
‘Yeah, we’re talking to Mick,’ said Lowdon with a huge grin on his face.
Many thought that Schumacher’s chance in F1 had already passed when he was booted from the Haas team, with an array of talented young drivers overtaking him in the pecking order.
Nonetheless, Lowdon was full of praise for the son of seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, even if he is one of many in with a shout of a seat at Cadillac next season.
‘Mick is great,’ Lowdon told Sky Deutschland. ‘He’s a very nice guy, I like him a lot. I’ve got to know him better now.
‘He’s still young, but he already has Formula 1 experience. Of course, that was a while ago, but he’s kept himself up to date.
‘We really like that. We really like that. He is no stranger to the team. He knows where we stand. There are some positive things to say about Mick.
Schumacher, 26, has not raced in Formula One since leaving Haas after the 2022 season
‘He is clearly one of the drivers on the list. But I should also say that the list is quite long.’
Bottas has been one of the names floated about when discussing who may drive for the Ferrari-powered team, and Lowdon has confirmed that talks with the Mercedes reserve driver have also taken place.
However, the team principal was keen to make it known that he does not want the likes of Schumacher and Bottas to join just to prove they are still worthy of a seat, but to help the team succeed in its rookie year.
Continuing on the High Performance Podcast, he said: ‘Everyone wants to prove something else again. I never look at that as the biggest motivator.
‘Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point. Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like.
‘For someone to prove what they can do for sure, but it’s not the vehicle to show the world, prove a point, or whatever.
‘The driver is there to do the best that they possibly can for their team, and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. So, I’m less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point.’
When asked about the prospect of Perez joining the cause, Lowdon did not want to rule any driver out of the running.
‘Every single person, every name that you’re going to read out, we’re talking to everyone because everyone wants the drive.’
