Schumacher and Cadillac: The Untold Story Behind the Secret Negotiations
May 6 – Mick Schumacher may actually be a serious contender to return to Formula 1 with the all-new Cadillac team from 2026.
In Miami, all the hype was about a potential or likely deal for the heavily-backed and experienced former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, whose billionaire backer Carlos Slim was also in town.
However, Perez did not attend Cadillac’s red-carpet launch event at nearby Queen Miami Beach on Saturday.
But which driver did conspicuously attend both the Miami GP and the Cadillac event some 20 minute drive away – none other than Schumacher, according to Germany’s major Bild newspaper.
The report claims “secret conversations” between Alpine’s 26-year-old WEC driver and Cadillac took place over the weekend, potentially ending Schumacher’s three-year wait for a F1 comeback.
“As Bild learned, he was in Miami to meet with Cadillac executives,” correspondent Enrico Ahlig, who was also in Miami, said.
It is believed Schumacher could be an option to be 35-year-old Perez’s teammate next year in the event that the favourite – Indycar star Colton Herta – cannot secure a F1 super license.
“To obtain one,” Ahlig explained, “he must finish at least fourth this season. After four races, however, he is only in eighth place.”
Also in Miami was Cadillac advisor and F1 legend Mario Andretti, who told DAZN the sport’s all-new eleventh team has a “pretty good idea” about its ideal first lineup.
“We want to wait as long as we can so we feel we’ve made the best possible decision,” he explained. “But everyone you mentioned is in play.”
Co-owner Tan Towriss, meanwhile, confirmed that driver talks are well underway.
“I think the most important thing is that we’re not on hold when it comes to selecting a driver,” he said. “There’s a lot to do to select your driver for Formula 1 from that perspective.
“We’re taking our time,” Towriss added. “The list certainly includes the names that a lot of people are talking about. Although I do love waking up every day and reading that we’re in the final stages of negotiations.”
Schumacher’s uncle Ralf, the young brother of Mick’s famous father Michael, was asked specifically about the intensifying Cadillac rumours by Sky Deutschland.
“Basically, he’s a driver who has been in Formula 1 and has experience, but also handled situations well,” said the former F1 driver.
“Mick didn’t have an easy time in Formula 1, but things worked out really well in the end with his transition to the WEC, which is important.
“What Cadillac needs is a driver with whom you can build something, who doesn’t crash, and who is a team player,” former Williams and Toyota driver Schumacher added.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
Was Mick really in Miami because he wasn’t seen at all & in any case, he’s been mentioned before already, so nothing new in this regard, but honestly, when will people stop thinking he’d realistically have a concrete chance when the opposite is the cold reality.
He’s been away from F1 racing too long for someone without vast racing experience & any sporting success in the series, so zero chance this long afterwards anymore, especially considering how many comparatively better options Cadillac has available, so he stands zero chance of jumping everyone single one of them, be that Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, or even O’Ward, for that matter, but definitely the first three.
Btw, Herta needs to finish at least 5th in the IndyCar standings.
Another viable American driver option, Jak Crawford, needs to finish at least 7th in the F2 championship to reach super license eligibility.
Even if neither reaches eligibility this year, the amount of comparatively better options is still too high for Mick to stand a concrete chance in the end, so totally wishful thinking.
People shouldn’t forget that Bottas, likewise to Checo, has vast F1 racing experience & even better statistical record, while Zhou has strong sponsor backing & is very marketable, while Tsunoda is doing something even the Checo-Bottas-Zhou trio isn’t doing, which is that he currently competes in F1, so he’s definitely a viable option because his future beyond this season’s end is unclear.
Ironically, even Ricciardo & Magnussen would have a better chance if they were interested to compete in F1 again, which speaks volumes about Mick, who’s been overlooked by at least six teams for a full-time driver since he last raced in F1, so thinking the matter would be different after even more time has passed is simply unrealistic, not to mention getting overlooked over & over again isn’t a mere coincidence, but a clear pattern, which Cadillac will have also noticed.
Zhou would go down like a lead balloon in America with your Average American fan due to the tariffs situation GM dont need to be signing him to sell GM evs, theyve a tough enough job as it is. Imo
I ultimately also feel the same way, but in the end, his chances of getting hired are predominantly dependent on whether GM truly cares about the US-China political situation & how much, if yes, i.e., enough to let it affect their decision regarding Zhou specifically since he’s got absolutely nothing to do with non-sporting matters, but we’ll see.
Nevertheless, ruling him out is premature at this point.
✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.