Mick Schumacher one amongst three drivers being considered by Alpine to partner Esteban Ocon

Mick Schumacher has been touted as a potential candidate to claim Fernando Alonso’s seat for the 2023 season after the Spaniard announced his decision to race for Aston Martin.

News coming out of Alpine has been somewhat stagnant ever since the dramatic start to the summer break.

Alonso took everyone by surprise when he confirmed his decision to quit the team.

While Alpine was still reeling from the effects of that, things got far more confusing for them when their reserve driver Oscar Piastri refuted their claim that he would feature for them next year.

It has since emerged that Piastri is looking to take Daniel Ricciardo’s seat at McLaren after Alpine missed the deadline on offering him a full-time deal.

Mick Schumacher’s name has been vouched by his uncle Ralf Schumacher, who has also featured in Formula 1 in the past.

“Mick has not yet signed a contract,” Ralf said.

“Therefore, he would be a candidate, a candidate with speed as we have seen. Nico Hulkenberg is also still in the starting blocks. Then, there is the question of Daniel Ricciardo.

“Personally, I can’t imagine that he would get another chance in Formula One. But I don’t know who Alpine should take at the moment.”

Esteban Ocon’s seat at Alpine is more or less certain heading into 2023, but it remains to be seen who the team looks to partner him up with.

Ricciardo’s name has also done the rounds and if Piastri does indeed take his seat at McLaren, it is not beyond imagination that the Honey Badger will be approached by Alpine just two years after he ditched Renault.

Alpine boss admits team is considering a number of drivers

Mick Schumacher. Credit: planetf1.com
Mick Schumacher. Credit: planetf1.com

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has admitted that a number of options are being weighed up by his team if Piastri does indeed move to McLaren.

“The question is Alonso is going to Aston Martin, we had a contract with Piastri and we have to understand where it takes us legally,” Szafnauer said.

“We believe, and that’s why we issued the statement, that we have a binding contract. We are going to spend some time looking at where this takes us.

“If Piastri is not in the car, which I think he will be, because Fernando is out, I have about 14 phone calls from drivers who are interested, because the Alpine seat is the most valuable seat left.”

Read more: Toto Wolff predicts flared “tensions” between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell ahead of return from summer break

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