Le Mans is one of the great classics of motorsport. And this time Mick Schumacher is there. This also brings back memories of his father’s appearance over three decades ago.
A placing like his father Michael’s fifth place 33 years ago in his only start at Le Mans would be a stroke of luck for Mick Schumacher.
The son of the Formula 1 record world champion emphasises before his debut at the legendary 24 hours: “The biggest challenge will be to see the start and finish flags. You can’t afford to make any mistakes here, but you still have to drive fast.”
From Brad Pitt to Zinedine Zidane
24 Hours of Le Mans, a classic. It is not for nothing that it is one of the three races that are referred to as the “Triple Crown” of motorsports. The other two: Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1. Only one person managed to win the Triple Crown: the Briton Graham Hill in the 1960s and 1970s.
Fame, honor, prestige – Le Mans combines all of this. It is no coincidence that this year French football legend Zinédine Zidane, former world and European champion, will start the race on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Before him, other celebrities from sports, show business and politics have done so, such as actor Brad Pitt (2016), tennis star Rafael Nadal (2018), acting icon Alain Delon (1996) and former French President Georges Pompidou (1972). “The 24 Hours of Le Mans are without comparison,” stressed Zidane. Until now, he had only seen the race on TV or in the cinema. “It will be a first for me to actually be there,” said the 51-year-old: “I can hardly wait.”
Mick Schumacher on the list for Alpine’s Formula 1 team
Mick Schumacher feels the same way. The fact that he is also racing for the French manufacturer Alpine with two French teammates, Nicolas Lapierre (40) and Matthieu Vaxivière (29), should put even more focus on the German debutant with the famous surname. In 1991, his father was at the start. Michael Schumacher drove in the Sauber-Mercedes at the time, and his rapid Formula 1 career began a good two months later.
For son Mick, the 24 Hours of Le Mans should also be a further accelerator on the arduous path back to a regular cockpit in the premier class of motorsport. It was not without ulterior motives that he chose Alpine for his second job alongside his position as test and reserve driver at Mercedes since the beginning of 2023.
Alpine also has a team in Formula 1 and team boss Bruno Famin recently confirmed that he had already held talks with Mick Schumacher in the search for at least one new driver for the coming season. “He’s on the list, but the list is long.”
A strong race in Le Mans could certainly improve Mick Schumacher’s position on this list. He still has no points in the World Endurance Championship, with fellow countryman André Lotterer and his team-mates leading the way. In his Porsche, he is now aiming for his fourth triumph in Le Mans. The competition is also well-known, experienced and adorned with merits. In the Hypercar category, for example, there is the former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, and in the GT3 there is motorcycle superstar and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi.
Practicing for the night shift
Mick Schumacher can boast titles in the two Formula series below Formula 1. After two years in the premier class of motorsport in 2021 and 2022, he did not get a new contract with the American Haas team, nor anywhere else.
Now it’s time to face one of the biggest challenges in motorsport. “I don’t think you can prepare specifically for Le Mans because the race is just so unique,” he told the German Press Agency, referring in particular to the long night shift: “Driving through the night is of course something completely different to what we are used to as racing drivers.”
During the test on Sunday, he was able to familiarize himself with the 13.626-kilometer-long course. Nine kilometers of it are normal country roads that are closed for the annual highlight of the World Endurance Championship. “In Le Mans, in addition to the many other racing cars that are driving with their lights on, some of the houses also have their lights on. So it will be bright enough,” emphasized Mick Schumacher. Now he just has to be fast enough.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
