Why Alpine F1 Team Should Sideline Mick Schumacher for 2025
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, every decision can either make or break a team's season. With Esteban Ocon set to depart at the end of the current season, Alpine F1 finds itself in a heated quest to find a suitable replacement. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner, never one to mince words, has advised Alpine to set their sights high and target the 'best driver' possible for the 2025 season, explicitly suggesting they steer clear of Mick Schumacher.
A Risky Bet or A Calculated Move?
Schumacher, a familiar name in motorsport, currently represents Alpine in the World Endurance Championship. However, his stint with Haas in the 2021 and 2022 F1 seasons was marred by frequent and costly crashes. These incidents not only weighed heavily on the team’s budget but also cast significant doubt on Schumacher's consistency and reliability as a driver.
Steiner, who has firsthand experience working with Schumacher, recommends Alpine looks at more seasoned and reliable options such as Carlos Sainz. When questioned about Schumacher’s potential candidacy, Steiner was unequivocal, naming both Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda as better alternatives at this juncture. 'You need to get the best driver you know is out there. I think people which are showing that they’re very good. And as a works team, you need to do the best you can,' Steiner said.
The Ongoing Saga of Ocon and Gasly
Adding another layer to Alpine’s conundrum is the relationship between Esteban Ocon and current teammate Pierre Gasly. A toxic cocktail of history and rivalry between the two French drivers boiled over with their first-lap collision in Monaco, pinning Ocon as the instigator. Ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle has even cautioned that Ocon's tendency to clash with teammates could make him a less attractive prospect for other teams.
Steiner weighs in on the issue, emphasizing that poor team dynamics are detrimental not just to the drivers involved, but to the team as a whole. 'Obviously you think about it, absolutely you think about it,' Steiner remarked. 'Team-mates don’t need to be the best friends, but they need to respect each other because in the end, it’s generally in life, you need to respect other people.'
Looking Ahead: The Future of Alpine F1
The cracks in the Ocon-Gasly partnership have led to intense speculation about Ocon's future, with some linking him to a potential switch to Haas. Steiner sees this as an inevitable move, considering the toxic past and unwillingness to cooperate between the two drivers. 'If I don’t like to be somewhere, I move on. I’m not trying to fight it at the cost of somebody else, which is the team,' Steiner added, underlining the necessity of a harmonious team environment.
Alpine's choice of driver for 2025 will not only reflect their ambitions but also their strategic planning. Prioritizing raw talent and proven track records over familial ties or nostalgic value is essential in a sport as cutthroat as Formula 1. With options like Sainz and Tsunoda on the table, Alpine has a critical decision ahead—one that could either propel them into the upper echelons of the grid or see them falter under inexperienced leadership.