Ex-F1 driver asks Mick Schumacher to "give up" F1 dream with blunt Alex Palou comparison

A German former F1 driver has asked his compatriot Mick Schumacher to "give up" any hopes of an F1 return. He highlighted how the chances of going from IndyCar to F1 are "extremely slim," sharing the example of four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who couldn't find any takers in F1.

Schumacher recently announced that he would join Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to compete in IndyCar in 2026 and possibly beyond. This move was motivated by his passion for open-wheel racing, a category he hadn't raced in since 2022, after failing to prove his worth with Haas in F1.

However, in an IndyCar press conference earlier this week, when Mick Schumacher was asked if he felt an IndyCar switch could interfere with a potential F1 opportunity in the future, the 26-year-old replied in the negative. He felt that the doors to F1 were still open.

However, former F1 driver Christian Danner, who backed Schumacher for the IndyCar move before it was officially announced, feels that the German driver has no future in F1. In an interview with Express.de, Danner said:

"Mick should finally give up on Formula 1. He has no other choice. The best IndyCar driver is Alex Palou, who won the championship four times and still can't make it to Formula 1. The chances of going from IndyCar to Formula 1 are extremely slim."

Alex Palou harbored the dream of becoming an F1 driver since his childhood. Unfortunately, after switching to IndyCar, the closest he got to that dream was when he signed with McLaren Racing in a dual IndyCar-F1 role. However, that partnership turned ugly after a breach of contract, with the court's decision awaited after McLaren's $20 million lawsuit concluded earlier this month.

Alex Palou and his family with his fourth IndyCar championship trophy at the IndyCar Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix - Source: Getty

Though Danner advised Mick Schumacher against a continued pursuit of F1, he was completely supportive of the IndyCar switch.

"But congratulations to Mick for working so hard to pursue what he enjoys, even against some resistance from those around him. It's a good and courageous step he's taking. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he wins again and enjoys racing. I did the same, and it did me a world of good," he added.

Alex Palou's heart eventually moved on from F1 after achieving continued success in IndyCar, including four championships in five years and his first Indy 500 win in 2025. This year, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver was linked to Cadillac F1 and Red Bull for a 2026 switch, but he emphasized that he was no longer interested in F1.

Former F1 driver takes his 'hat off' to Mick Schumacher for courageous IndyCar switch

Ralf Schumacher with Mick Schumacher at the F1 Dutch Grand Prix - Source: Getty

Mick Schumacher faced resistance from his uncle, Ralf Schumacher, who felt that a move to IndyCar wasn't safe for the 26-year-old. The older Schumacher highlighted the 'dangers' of racing on IndyCar's ovals, but the younger Schumacher wasn't concerned.

He was ready to commit '100%' to IndyCar after his test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on October 13. Christian Danner tipped his hat to Mick Schumacher for sticking with his decision to join the premier American open-wheel racing series.

"Yes, that's why I say: hats off to him," said Danner. "If a young man really wants something, he can overcome such obstacles. Mick has proven that. And IndyCars have become significantly safer. This has meant that even in the accidents that happen at those high speeds, everything has generally turned out well. That's why I can say with a clear conscience: Mick can drive to new successes without any worries."

A week before his official IndyCar switch announcement, Mick Schumacher announced he'd left Alpine's World Endurance Championship squad after the 2025 season. His next steps with RLL include seven tests before the 2026 IndyCar season, with a major focus on oval racing.