Alpine's current performance predicament may present Mick Schumacher with an ideal but potentially his final chance to make a comeback to Formula 1.
The expiring contracts of Alpine's esteemed French drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, coupled with speculation about their departure, puts the team in a precarious position.
The team, with bases in Enstone and Viry, has experienced significant setbacks with its 2024 car. Reports from Auto Motor und Sport suggest that Alpine is the sole team to commence the new season with a vehicle that is, astonishingly, slower than its 2023 model by a tenth of a second.
The recent upheaval in management and ownership has fueled speculations that Renault CEO Luca de Meo, who was present at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, might contemplate selling the team. "There are enough interested parties," claims Tobias Gruner, a correspondent.
Alternatively, de Meo could consider dismissing Bruno Famin, who only recently transitioned from the 'interim' team principal role to a permanent position. "In Formula 1, everything happens so quickly," Famin remarked. "You're actually always the interim team boss."
Renault's power unit is currently the weakest on the grid, but the car's excessive weight is another significant problem. This issue was exacerbated by an additional 10 kilograms of reinforcement to meet FIA crash test requirements after initial failures. "Other teams didn't pass at the first attempt either," Famin defends. "If you get straight through, it means you're not operating close enough to the limit."
Famin acknowledges the drivers' complaints about insufficient traction and insists that adding more downforce could alleviate the problem. "We have already laid the foundations on the mechanical side," he asserts. "Now it's about finding more downforce, which is at the top of our list. We already have a few good developments in the pipeline."
However, whether these improvements will retain Ocon and Gasly for 2025 remains uncertain. "We are in no hurry on the driver question, but we would like to extend our current duo. They are our first choice," Famin stated.
Should Alpine need to explore other options, Mick Schumacher, the former Haas driver now working to restore his reputation through Alpine's world endurance championship and Le Mans efforts this year, could be considered.
Gunther Steiner, who previously dismissed Schumacher from Haas, believes 2025 could be the 24-year-old's last opportunity to reestablish his Formula 1 career. "If it doesn't work out next year, it will probably never work out again," Steiner told Bild. "If he doesn't drive in Formula 1 next year, that will be three years without a cockpit. Sure, he was there for two years and is part of the new generation - but it would be extremely difficult if he was completely out of it for three years. He has to do well in the WEC this season, then it can be a stepping stone," he added.
Yet, the F1 driver market remains unpredictable, with no new full-time drivers breaking onto the grid this year. "We will see how the driver market in Formula 1 develops," Steiner concluded. "It is not yet clear whether anyone will quit."
