F1 News: Bernie Ecclestone Insists Mick Schumacher Would Be Secure With Red Bull

Bernie Ecclestone claims Mick Schumacher would have been better suited to the Red Bull family.

Bernie Ecclestone, the former CEO of Formula 1, offered insightful perspectives on Mick Schumacher's current career trajectory and future prospects in the motorsport world. Schumacher's move to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Alpine, while maintaining a reserve driver role at Mercedes, was a focal point of Ecclestone's observations, who believes the German driver would have been better suited to the Red Bull family.

Key Takeaways:

• Ecclestone's Views on Schumacher's F1 Journey: Bernie Ecclestone believes that Mick Schumacher's talent would have been better nurtured at a team like Red Bull, emphasising the importance of support and coaching for young drivers.
• The Challenge Ahead for Schumacher: Ecclestone advises Schumacher to demonstrate his capabilities through persistent effort and performance, suggesting that he needs to establish his worth beyond his family name.
• Understanding Schumacher's Shift to WEC: Acknowledging Schumacher's move to long-distance racing with Alpine, Ecclestone sees this as the best available option for him currently, while keeping an F1 return a possibility.

Bernie Ecclestone shared his thoughts on Mick Schumacher's career decisions and the challenges he faces. Ecclestone commented, as quoted by GPBlog:

"He would have been better understood at Red Bull, for example, where he would have been helped and coached to the top." 

Ecclestone, aware of the complexities of Schumacher's situation, added:

"He has to fight, he has to persevere and show that he is still capable of good performances. At best, people will then see him and say, 'We need him'. And not the other way around: that he is looking for someone to hire him because of his name. He needs to forget his name and develop as a person." 

Recognising Schumacher's pivot to the World Endurance Championship, Ecclestone remarked:

"It is probably the only and best thing he can do at the moment."

Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, experienced a significant career shift after his time with Haas F1 Team ended without a seat for 2023. He embraced the role of a reserve driver at Mercedes during the 2023 season while joining Alpine in the WEC for 2024, a move that he views as an exciting challenge and not a step back.

Balancing his commitments in the WEC and as a reserve driver for Mercedes, Schumacher remains connected to the F1 world, keeping his options open for a potential return. With the contracts of Alpine F1 drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly expiring after 2024, his future in Formula 1, as Ecclestone suggests, may still hold promise.