Schumacher: “The WEC serves to mature as a driver, I learned a lot” | FP

First race in the WEC

On the same day that Formula 1 was in Bahrain to compete in the first GP of the season, the WEC was in turn on track in Losail for the 1812 km of Qatar. A ten-hour race which involved several former Circus drivers, one of whom was making his debut in the Endurance category as Mick Schumacher.

Not a positive test forAlpine #36 of the German son of art, who with his teammates Vaxivierre and Lapierre did not finish higher than 13th place, which later became 12th only following the disqualification of the Peugeot #93. Interviewed by Sport1, Schumacher nevertheless highlighted positive aspects relating to his debut: “Getting there was the big goal – he has declared – I learned a lot, which I didn't expect“. In 128 laps completed, for a total of around 4 hours at the wheel, the German however experienced a negative phase after having driven over the gravel on the track, losing control of his A424: “Unfortunately, after the contact, the front axle was damaged and this cost us our performance. I wasn't happy.”

The advantages of the WEC

Having archived the test in Qatar, Schumacher and Alpine are now preparing for the next round with the 6 Hours of Imola, in a first experience which has nevertheless brought the German back to the race after a long absence from the tracks: “The WEC serves to mature as a driverbut first of all I want to run there – he added – running what I have done since I was a child, what I love and what I missed a lot last year. It was tough not being able to compete. In this sense, this year for me is above all a question of sport: finally duels again, finally competitions again. Furthermore, I can't wait to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's going to be a brutal day.”

For Schumacher, however, the dream of Formula 1 remains. By contract, the German remains Mercedes' reserve driver, and will be able to replace Hamilton or Russell in the event of unavailability on the part of the latter even in the six weekends in which WEC and F1 overlap: “My dream is and remains Formula 1 – he added to SID – I'm following everything very closely, but in the end I can only recommend myself for a cockpit with good performance again.”