P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mick Schmacher will return to a full-time racing position this year as he joins Alpine’s Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship.
Mick Schumacher has admitted that he finds the Hypercar entry in World Endurance Racing “claustrophobic” but is excited about the challenge of competing in the class. Despite being dropped by Haas at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season, Schumacher will continue as a reserve driver for Mercedes while racing for Alpine in WEC. He had his first experience driving Alpine’s LMDh car in a test at Jerez last year and while it felt heavy and different, Schumacher insists it wasn’t the deciding factor in his decision to switch to WEC. The upcoming WEC season will begin in March with the Qatar 1812 km race, and Schumacher is particularly interested in tackling the 24 Hours of Le Mans, considering it a challenge to bring the car through the full 24 hours and see the chequered flag.
