Ex-Formula 1 Driver Mick Schumacher Tests IndyCar At Indianapolis

Former Formula 1 Driver Mick Schumacher prepares for his first IndyCar test on October 13.

IndyCar Photo by Joe Skibinski

The famed “Schumacher” name returned to the race course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 13, as former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher completed his first team in an Indy car.

The 26-year-old son of Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher drove a Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Monday. His father, the first seven-time Formula One World Champion, is the all-time leader for wins on the IMS Road Course with five between 2000 to 2006.

However, the current IMS road course is a different layout than the one that was used for the United States Grand Prix at IMS from 2000 to 2007.

Schumacher drove the No. 75 Honda in an IndyCar trial with Rahal Letterman Lanigan.

Schumacher’s Initial Impressions

Schumacher elaborated on his first IndyCar drive after Monday’s test session concluded.

“It was obviously good to get to know the car, get to know the team,” Schumacher said. “I think we managed to get through all the run plan and the test items we wanted to do, so obviously very happy with that.

“I think we’re stoked about what the lap times are doing, and I think it wasn’t a main target, but still it went pretty well. I’m happy about today.”

Schumacher arrived in Indianapolis early last Friday to visit the team and have a seat-fitted to his body for the test. Afterwards, he spent time in the Honda simulator in nearby Brownsburg, Indiana to learn the new style of racing machine.

“I think it was a great preparation,” he said. “I think it was really important for me to kind of get to see how a race weekend would run out, and I think it was kind of close to that.

“It was good to have the time with the team also back in the factory before I came out to the test. The simulator itself was a great opportunity for me to get a taste of the car before actually driving it, so it wouldn’t be a complete surprise, even though it wouldn’t have been. It was actually pretty close to what I’m used to and what I’ve driven before.

“It was very productive and very happy about the preparation we’ve done.”

Although this is an IndyCar trial, Schumacher admitted he would be open to an IndyCar opportunity as early as next season.

“I think in terms of what I’m doing in 2026, it’s very open,” he said. “Obviously the options are all there. I think IndyCar is one of them, so I really just wanted to know what it was so that I can make my mind up.

“I have different options, and this being one of them, so I think, yeah, there is good potential. It’s about me now trying to figure out what I want to do and if this is one thing that I would consider for long-term.”

Schumacher’s Testing Results Fare Well Against Other IndyCar Drivers

Schumacher’s test day on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course was shared with NTT IndyCar Series veterans Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing along with INDY NXT by Firestone drivers Caio Collet (AJ Foyt Racing), Dennis Hauger (Dale Coyne Racing), Lochie Hughes (Andretti Global) and James Roe (Juncos Hollinger Racing).

It was the first time Schumacher returned to an open-wheel, single-seater race car since the final race of the 2022 F1 World Championship season. Since then, he has served as a Formula 1 reserve driver and competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in sports cars.

“I think that’s what is kind of attracting me to it,” Schumacher admitted. “I love having open wheels. I think one of the things my dad always said was, ‘the Schumacher’s are usually faster if they can see their wheels.’

“I kind of do like that quote. I think it’s just the appeal of racing 17 times a year.”

Schumacher attended the 109^th Indianapolis 500 earlier in May and was amazed with the spectacle and the crowd.

Although he has never competed on an oval track, Monday’s focus was adapting to the Indy car on the road course.

Dennis Hauger was the fastest around the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course with a best lap of 1:10.768. Rossi was second for Ed Carpenter Racing at 1:10.858 and Schumacher was third at 1:10.980. He was followed by Collet’s 1:11.048, Hughes at 1:11.356, Rasmussen at 1:11.493 and Roe’s 1:11.600.

Because it was a test session, all times are “unofficial.”

Schumacher Comfortable Back In An Open Wheel Race Car

The driver with an impressive racing heritage was most happy to see his wheels again.

“I did enjoy the track,” Schumacher said. “It was good. Obviously very old-school. I like it. You get punished if you make a little mistake, but not in a bad way. You just go off into the grass, for example.

“I love seeing my wheels, for sure. It’s obviously a bit different to all the single seaters that I’ve driven so far, as we have Aeroscreen, so it was getting kind of hot at times, and air flow is a bit difficult, but those are all things you’re kind of getting used to and understanding about what those little change and differences are.

“I think there’s great potential in safety in that Aeroscreen, so I think that’s where why everybody is very happy about it. Nonetheless, maybe the disadvantages it brings, like air flow. Yeah, I think it’s been fun. It’s been good to see the car, and it’s been fun to drive it.”

Schumacher compared the current Indy car to the Formula 2 car that he once drove to the championship. He noted the car is a little heavier in terms of steering. IndyCar does not use power steering, unlike other forms of racing.

“You have to be a bit more aggressive (with the Indy car),” Schumacher explained. “You can be more aggressive. The tires do take quite a bit of that, let’s say, rigid driving. Yeah, there’s a lot of fun in that. There’s a lot of fun. I think every aspect has their benefits and negatives.

“It has been good to see. It’s been good to see the difference, and I think both have their flare.”

Schumacher’s IndyCar Decision Remains Down the Road

A decision on whether Schumacher will join IndyCar is “quite far down the road” the driver said.

“I think obviously at some point I want to be sure about my future, so I think it won’t be too long until I make a decision,” Schumacher continued. “Whether that’s going to happen before or after I do an oval test, I do not know.

“I still have got to let everything sink in a bit, figure it out, and yeah, I guess I have to decide down the line. It’s hard to say how high the percentage is.

“Today has been very fun, but yeah, I guess I’ve got to analyze a bit more and see what, yeah, that would look like.”

But the No. 1 thing that Schumacher finds attractive about IndyCar is the style of racing depends more on the driver than the technology of the racing machine.

In Formula 1, the most successful drivers have the most technologically advanced race car.

“The fact that they rely so heavily on the driver is something that really spiked my interest and made it interesting for me to come out and try,” Schumacher concluded.