Mick Schumacher is targeting a return to Formula 1 with newcomers Cadillac for the 2026 season, but rumours have suggested he may no longer be in the race.

Schumacher has been in talks with Cadillac for some time, as he hopes to land a seat on the grid after a three-year hiatus. Son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, the German has been out of the sport since his exit from Haas in 2022.

Since then, the 26-year-old has acted as a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren, and now plies his trade with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship. Schumacher wants a seat at Cadillac, but he faces tough competition.

Sergio Perez is a clear favourite to join Cadillac, having held talks since his exit from Red Bull last season. Valtteri Bottas has also been heavily linked, as well as the likes of Zhou Guanyu, Felipe Drugovich, Frederik Vesti and Jak Crawford.

Guenther Steiner called for Cadillac to sign Schumacher in a surprise U-turn, considering he had sacked the German at Haas and previously told the General Motors-backed team to sign Perez and Bottas. Cadillac are beginning to narrow down their options for 2026.

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F1 ‘insiders’ say Cadillac haven’t rejected Mick Schumacher as he remains one of the ‘hottest candidates’

It was recently reported that Cadillac had rejected Schumacher and Zhou as options for 2026. However, a report from F1-Insider paints it as a different story.

The report states that the ‘truth’ is that Schumacher is still ‘one of the hottest candidates for Cadillac’. Despite rumours stating he is no longer in the race for a 2026 seat, ‘insiders’ say neither Schumacher’s camp nor the American brand are aware of such claims.

Cadillac will make their decision on their driver line-up in the coming weeks, with Schumacher being considered alongside Zhou as a younger option, while Perez and Bottas are the experienced candidates. The German’s chances of landing a contract, as per the report, are ‘50%’.

Cadillac will continue talks ‘behind closed doors’ at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. Schumacher will be involved in said conversations, as he remains a target for the team next season.

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Mick Schumacher will have to fight his case hard with Cadillac to land a 2026 seat

F1 fans would be ‘extremely disappointed’ if Cadillac sign Schumacher, believing it would be a ‘waste’ of a seat. The 26-year-old did have a torrid spell in F1 with Haas in 2021 and 2022, with multiple accidents hampering his career.

Mika Hakkinen thinks Schumacher damaged his reputation among teams, hence why he will need to fight his case hard to get a contract at Cadillac. He is up against far more experienced drivers like Bottas, but does have his advantages.

Schumacher has been in racing since his F1 exit, having had numerous reserve roles before moving to sports car racing last year. This is where he may benefit over someone like Perez, who is not in any racing series in 2025.

Cadillac have not discussed contract lengths with Bottas or Perez, with it being unclear whether they want two experienced drivers or one to go next to a younger talent. Schumacher fills the second criterion and has a point to prove, but he will need to keep battling to secure a drive.