P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine: "Underestimated" Schumacher joining WEC team too good to pass up
According to Bruno Famin, vice president of motorsport at Renault, the deal for Mick Schumacher to race the new Alpine A242 LMDh prototype in 2024 was already in motion before his try-out in the car at Jerez in October. Famin believes that Schumacher is an underestimated driver and his experience in Formula 2 and 3 will be valuable. He expects Schumacher to push the bar higher at the Alpine Endurance Team and bring new ideas and methodologies from his experience as a Mercedes reserve driver. The test at Jerez was intended for Schumacher to familiarize himself with endurance racing and decide if he would be happy with a full program at Alpine. Famin emphasized that the driver selection process was manual and human, rather than an industrial process, and that Schumacher’s mindset and ability to work with the team were important factors. Schumacher’s ongoing F1 deal with Mercedes allows him to be a stand-in for Lewis Hamilton or George Russell if needed, but Alpine will also name a reserve driver at a later date.
