Ralf Schumacher has suggested that his nephew Mick Schumacher could be a contender for a Formula 1 race seat with GM-Cadillac when the American giant joins the grid in 2026.
While the competition for a drive with the new team is expected to be intense, Ralf did not dismiss the possibility of Mick making a return to the sport.
On Monday, Formula 1 confirmed that automotive giant General Motor, under the Cadillac banner, had been provisionally accepted as an F1 entrant for 2026.
This sport’s expansion to 11 teams and 22 drivers has ignited speculation about the potential driver lineup for the American manufacturer.
Early rumors have linked GM with American talent, including IndyCar star Colton Herta, and even current F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, who has expressed interest in the project.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Ralf Schumacher emphasized GM-Cadillac’s likely focus on incorporating homegrown talent into their lineup.
"I’m pretty sure they’ll rely on American talent," he said. However, he was cautious about overestimating the readiness of IndyCar drivers for the leap to F1.
“On the other hand, it’s fair to say that the IndyCar level is not the Formula 1 level. We’ve seen that in numerous test drives. But that doesn’t mean that there’s some super talent lurking there that no one has found yet."
Mick Schumacher, who raced for Haas from 2021 to 2022 and is currently Mercedes’ reserve driver, could be an attractive option for GM-Cadillac. While Ralf acknowledged the challenges of building a new team, he also highlighted the need for experience and reliability in their driver selection.
"I’m assuming that they’ll get a known name to give them a starting point," he said. "You’re starting from scratch with everything and that’s going to be damn difficult. That’s why you have to have someone who you know can do it and who you can rely on."
Mick’s tenure at Haas gave him two years of F1 experience, and his current role with Mercedes has kept him in touch with the sport’s cutting edge.
His pedigree as the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher adds to his marketability, which could appeal to a new team looking to establish a strong identity.
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Ralf expressed optimism about GM’s ability to succeed in F1 despite the immense challenge of entering the sport.
"It will of course take some time, but General Motors is a huge corporation and whatever they tackle will work in the end," he said.
The addition of GM-Cadillac to the grid will also create new opportunities for young drivers, according to Ralf.
"Then we will have 11 teams, and I am looking forward to it because there will be another one and, above all, two places for new, young drivers,” he added.
“We know how difficult that is with 20 cars, now we have ten percent more at our disposal.”
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