Mick Schumacher confirms near deal with Cadillac F1 before signing with IndyCar

Mick Schumacher, son of legendary Michael Schumacher, confirmed that he was in advanced talks with the incoming Cadillac Formula 1 team for a potential 2026 race seat before the American outfit chose Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. The 26-year-old German driver, who has been out of F1 since losing his Haas seat at the end of 2022, was considered a strong candidate, but ultimately the team went in a different direction to field experienced race winners.

Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon acknowledged that discussions with Schumacher progressed significantly until late in the decision-making process amid the sport's major regulatory changes in 2026. Schumacher described the outcome as tough but understandable, backing Cadillac's choice to select drivers with a combined 16 Grand Prix wins. With no clear path back to F1, he pivoted to the NTT IndyCar Series and signed a full-season deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) for 2026, driving the Honda-powered No. 47 car.

Despite moving to IndyCar, Schumacher emphasised that this does not close the door on his Formula 1 ambitions. He expressed excitement for the new challenge single-seater IndyCar presents, particularly with oval racing on the calendar, while remaining open to future opportunities that may arise. Schumacher joins teammates Graham Rahal and Louis Foster in his rookie IndyCar campaign, aiming to leverage his F1 and endurance racing experience.

Schumacher reflected, “The whole situation has been a tough one in some ways, but I think, understandably, they went in a different direction. Thankfully, the opportunity came up with a team, and I’m super glad and super happy to be where I am now.” The 2026 F1 season will feature new chassis, lighter cars, sustainable fuels, and more competition with new teams such as Cadillac entering the grid.