Mick Schumacher could be in line for a return to Formula 1 from the start of next season.

Mick, son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael, followed in his father’s footsteps by competing in F1 when he drove for Haas in 2021 and 2022, finishing 19th and 16th respectively in the drivers’ standings.

However, he was dropped for the 2023 season in favour of veteran Nico Hulkenberg and is the current reserve driver for Mercedes.

He is yet to have an opportunity to compete for the British-based team but signed up to the Alpine World Endurance Championship (WEC) programme ahead of this year, with the 25-year-old set to race at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans next month.

The French team could offer Schumacher a route back into the sport due to unrest between their current drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who are both out of contract at the end of the campaign.

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Mick Schumacher could be in line for a return to F1 from the start of next season with Alpine

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Mick is the son of legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher, who won seven world titles

The French pair have endured an indifferent relationship, and tensions flared up again at the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend.

On the first lap of the race, Ocon recklessly tried to overtake Gasly on the inside and the pair made contact, with the former’s car being knocked into the air before landing.

However, the collision caused too much damage and Ocon was forced to retire, while Gasly was left fuming by his team-mate’s antics.

Ocon was subsequently punished by stewards and later took to social media to apologise.

‘Today’s incident was my fault,’ he reflected. ‘The gap was too small in the end and I apologise to the team on this one. Hoping for a deserved points-finish for the team today.’

Team boss Bruno Famin was similarly angry and warned Ocon there would be consequences when speaking to French broadcasters.

‘It’s sad to see this kind of incident,’ he told Canal+. ‘It’s exactly what we didn’t want to see. Esteban’s attack was totally out of circumstances.

‘It was exactly what we didn’t want to see and we’re going to draw the consequences. We’re going to make a tough decision.

‘If we were fighting for a podium finish at the end of the race, why not, and still… But there, on the first lap, at Le Portier, frankly, it wasn’t the place to make an attack, leaving zero room for his teammate.’

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Alpine boss Bruno Famin said ‘it would be a mistake’ not to consider Mick (left, with Michael)

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Schumacher (right) drove for Haas for two seasons but was dropped for the 2023 season

The fact that Gasly and Ocon will be out of contract at the end of this year potentially opens the door to Schumacher and Famin admitted the Swiss-born German is a candidate to join the team.

‘I’m very happy with Mick,’ he told Sky Germany. ‘He’s super fast. But that’s not the main thing in the WEC, you have to drive at a consistently high level and have a good team spirit.

‘I’m very impressed with him because he adapted his attitude to the long-distance races from day one.

‘He has a very good relationship with his teammates. Everything is open for 2025, everyone talks to everyone. It would be a mistake not to have Mick on the list.’

When pressed on the subject in Monte Carlo, Schumacher remained tight-lipped on the rumours but outlined how he ‘dreams’ of returning to the sport as a main driver.

‘My goal and my dream is to drive in Formula 1,’ he said. ‘It has always been like that and it will always be like that. That’s why we have to make sure that the dominoes fall in my direction and hopefully I end up with a seat.

‘What I can do is to simply give my best performance in the WEC and also in Formula 1 and continue to perform well for the team as a reserve driver and continue to lead the discussions.’

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Schumacher (pictured driving for Haas) finished 19th and 16th in the drivers’ standings

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Alpine pairing Pierre Gasly (left) and Esteban Ocon (right) are both out of contract this year

If he does return, Mick will hope to emulate some of the achievements of his father, who is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time.

Having claimed the world title in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, Michael also added 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums to his name during his iconic racing career.

However, he was tragically involved in a skiing accident in December 2013 that left him in a medically induced coma. He hasn’t appeared publicly since.

The German is cared for by a team of medical staff and his wife Corinna at their Lake Geneva home, but little has been made public about his condition.