Former F1 driver Mick Schumacher has been confirmed to test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 13. This announcement comes amid reports that Devlin DeFrancesco, a driver for RLL, has a performance clause in his contract, allowing the team to potentially replace him at the end of the season.

Mick Schumacher, who raced for the Haas F1 team until he was released after the 2022 season, spent the following year as Mercedes’ reserve driver before joining Alpine’s World Endurance Championship programme. Shortly after the news of his upcoming IndyCar test was announced, Schumacher expressed his eagerness to return to a single-seater open-wheel racing series.

There is a possibility that if the test goes well, the German driver could sign with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2026 IndyCar season. However, not everyone is convinced this is the right move for him.

### Ralf Schumacher Voices Concerns Over IndyCar Move

Mick’s uncle, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, spoke out just days before the test, warning his nephew about the dangers of IndyCar racing, particularly on oval tracks.

“It’s not so easy for people from IndyCar to make the transition to Formula 1. The tests that have taken place so far have not been successful,” Ralf said. He added, “If you go over there, it’s a bit like Japan — the standard is still high, so it won’t be that easy to succeed in America. And that’s why it’s an additional pressure that perhaps you don’t need to put yourself under.”

He further stressed, “That’s why I, personally, don’t think it’s a good idea,” referencing the inherent risks involved with oval racing and recalling past incidents.

### Ralf Schumacher’s Take on Mick’s F1 Future

Mick Schumacher has not raced in F1 since the 2022 season, and the competition within the grid continues to intensify. Young drivers such as Arvid Lindblad and Alex Dunne are challenging for potential F1 seats. Additionally, several emerging talents — including Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto — have already secured moves into Formula 1 this year.

Speaking about Mick’s chances of returning to F1, Ralf commented, “He’s been out of Formula 1 for a few years now; you can already say he’s running out of time. Statistically speaking, it’s getting harder and harder for Mick, you have to be honest. The longer he is out, the less likely he is to return.”

Earlier speculation linked Schumacher to a possible seat at Cadillac’s F1 team for the 2026 season, but the team ultimately chose to sign Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez instead.

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**Pranay Bhagi** is a motorsports journalist at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience in the industry. Having worked with respected platforms such as EssentiallySports and SportsRush, he has authored nearly 2,000 articles covering the thrilling worlds of Formula 1 and NASCAR.

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