Schumacher stays with Alpine in WEC after Mercedes F1 exit

Mick Schumacher will continue with the Alpine Hypercar squad in the World Endurance Championship for a second season in 2025. 

The former Haas Formula 1 racer has been announced along with five other drivers in the full line-up for the two Signatech-run Alpine A424 LMDhs next season.

Frederic Makowiecki joins Alpine’s roster following his departure from Porsche after 11 seasons, while reserve driver Jules Gounon moves up to a full-time race seat after making four race appearances with the Renault brand in 2024. 

They are replacements for Matthieu Vaxiviere, who has departed the Hypercar class line-up having been on Alpine’s books since 2021, and Nicolas Lapierre, who retired as a driver after the Fuji WEC round in September to become sporting director of the team. 

The confirmation of Schumacher, along with that of Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin, follows his refusal to commit to a second season of WEC while the possibility of a return to F1 remained.

The 25-year-old German, who will leave his Mercedes F1 reserve role at the end of 2024, said: “I am delighted that I will continue to be part of the Alpine Endurance adventure.

“We had a great first year together, and I am determined to help ensure that the performance of the programme is even better in the second year. 

#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Nicolas Lapierre

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

“We have defined a few points where we want to attack, so I’m really looking forward to my second endurance season.”

Makowiecki will remain in the WEC’s Hypercar division having been part of the factory Porsche squad for the past two seasons. 

The Frenchman, 44, insisted after his departure from Porsche that he had communicated his desire to leave to seek what he described as a “fresh challenge” before Porsche Penske Motorsport’s decision to slim down its full-time driving crew to two drivers per car. 

Makowiecki revealed that he was “extremely proud” to join Alpine. 

“It’s something special to represent a French manufacturer in the WEC with the possibility of aiming for an overall victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, especially as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport history,” he said. 

“I truly liked the team’s approach and development: Alpine improved and excelled in its first season against very tough competition. 

“I’m joining humbly, but I want to contribute to the team significantly.”

#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Frederic Makowiecki

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Gounon, 29, will move into a full-time seat at Alpine despite having a year left to run on his contract at Mercedes, whose GT roster he has been a part of since 2021.

“I’m genuinely happy to become a full-time driver thanks to Alpine’s confidence,” he said.

Bruno Famin, vice president of motorsport at Alpine added: “We have selected talented drivers who are not only fast but also have an exemplary analytical capacity and mindset. 

“Each brings a unique potential, with a single ambition: to improve the team and the A424 as much as possible.

“We have built a strong, close-knit group to build on the foundations of our first campaign, and the commitment of our drivers, coupled with their talent, will allow us to rise to the challenges that await us in the 2025 season.”

He added that Makowiecki had been brought into the team for his “experience, feedback and race craft”. 

Alpine has yet to reveal how the six drivers will line up across the two cars.