Back to happiness at 340 km/h?: Schumacher is unfamiliar with Le Mans and fights for his "lifelong dream"

Back to happiness at 340 km/h? Schumacher feels alienated from Le Mans and fights for his "lifelong dream." June 12, 2025, 5:59 a.m.

Mick Schumacher still dreams of Formula 1. But the present looks different: Schumacher is competing for the title this weekend at the World Endurance Championship in Le Mans. But the 26-year-old isn't entirely convinced by the concept.

For those who grew up with Formula 1, the concept of Le Mans remains somewhat unfamiliar – even Mick Schumacher is still a bit alienated. A world championship in which only a single race really counts? "For me, it's always like this," the German recently said, looking ahead to the climax of the World Endurance Championship next weekend: "If you win a championship, you've shown everyone what you've got. But here it's like this: If you win Le Mans, you've shown everyone what you've got."

On Saturday (4 p.m./Nitro and Eurosport), Schumacher will compete in the legendary 24-hour race in France for the second time in his career. More than 300,000 spectators are expected this weekend as well. But the excitement still hasn't caught up with him. "I probably operate a little differently than most drivers here," Schumacher told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ): "For me, Le Mans is a race like any other. Of course, it's a highlight. But for me, it shouldn't be the highlight of the year; rather, it should be a weekend that I approach with ease."

"I think the Formula 1 teams know what they have in me"

As relaxed as he has been recently, because things are going really well for Schumacher and his Alpine team. At Imola and Spa, the trio around him recently finished third. Alpine is significantly more competitive in 2025 than it was last year, when both cars retired from Le Mans with engine failures. Schumacher shares the cockpit with Frenchmen Frédéric Makowiecki and Jules Gounon. The 26-year-old repeatedly takes over the crucial final hours of the race, a testament to his importance within the team.

However, Schumacher says Formula 1 still plays the "biggest role" in his career planning; it remains "his lifelong dream" since his provisional retirement at the end of 2022. And so every lap in the WEC car, which can reach speeds of up to 340 km/h, is still a test drive for his return. "I think the Formula 1 teams know what they have in me," said Schumacher. "I can be up there with the front runners in any car and be fast, as my performances so far this year demonstrate." And a victory at Le Mans? That would "definitely help," said Schumacher, "but we have to be realistic. We want to finish first."