Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher will return to full-time racing in 2024 as part of Alpine's World Endurance Championship driver lineup.

Schumacher joined Mercedes' Formula 1 team as a reserve driver this year after not being retained following a one-year stint with Haas, where he was replaced by Kevin Magnussen.

The son of legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher, Mick has served as the reserve driver behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell this year — a role that he will also continue with in 2024. He has not driven in a race this year, but was in the car for a tire test in Barcelona.

Mercedes said: "Delighted to confirm that Mick Schumacher will retain his reserve driver role with the team for 2024.

"We are excited to see Mick continue to contribute to our team alongside his new challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship next season."

Schumacher had stated a desire to return to the grid but with no potential openings in 2024, he has decided to make the move to WEC.

"A new chapter is beginning for me with Alpine in the FIA WEC Hypercar category," Schumacher said. "The car is impressive, and I can't wait to get started.

"I've grown up with single-seaters, so driving a car with a closed cockpit and covered wheels is a great opportunity to hone my driving skills. I sorely missed racing this year; it's what I've loved to do since I was a kid, and it was sometimes difficult to watch the other drivers take to the track.

"Endurance racing is a new challenge for me, and I'm sure we will share great moments together next year with Alpine."

With Alpine, he will join a driver lineup that includes Nicolas Lapierre, Mathieu Vaxivere, Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin. Along with Schumacher, the twocar team's newcomers include Chatin and Habsburg.

"We are absolutely delighted to have these six drivers and we hope they will all bring their own experience and qualities to the project," Alpine's vice-president of motorsports, Bruno Famin, said.

"For example, Charles with his youth, Nicolas with his experience in Endurance to mentor the younger drivers, and also Mick, with his experience gained at the highest level.

"It might be his first foray into Endurance, but his enthusiasm for the project and his will to join us are palpable. I'm sure he will be a real asset."

Alpine said the crew lineup for the two cars will be announced on Feb 7.The season, whose highlight is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, starts in Qatar in March.

Williams is the only team left in F1 still with a potential vacancy for 2024.