Mick Schumacher has already been confirmed as the reserve driver for Mercedes, but he is also going to be the reserve driver for McLaren. This isn’t as unusual as you may think as McLaren have an arrangement with Mercedes to share their reserve drivers.
Previously, Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne were part of this same arrangement.
“McLaren will be able to call on Mick Schumacher as a reserve driver during the 2023 F1 season as part of our arrangement with Mercedes,” McLaren tweeted. “Welcome to the family, Mick.”
McLaren will be able to call on @SchumacherMick as a reserve driver during the 2023 F1 season as part of our arrangement with Mercedes. Welcome to the family, Mick. 👊🧡 pic.twitter.com/DNiJ5s99rQ
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 1, 2023
Schumacher is not the only reserve driver for McLaren with IndyCar driver, Alex Palou, being the official reserve driver.
This will allow Schumacher more track time and improve his chances for a return to the grid in 2024 and with Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, firmly on his side and allowing him to take any opportunity thrown his way, things have never looked better.
“I believe that we can provide him with a safe environment to develop further, he can be a good driver in a full-time seat in the future,” said Wolff. “We had to let Nyck [de Vries] go in the same way for him to have a career, now that could also happen with Mick. Whether it’s with our team or whether we have to let him go, we don’t know yet.”