In the round-up: Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 reserve duties with Mercedes in 2024 take priority over his race programme with Alpine.
In brief
Alpine explain how Schumacher will combine F1 and WEC next year
Mick Schumacher returns to racing next year as part of Alpine’s World Endurance Championship line-up, but he will continue as Mercedes’ reserve driver in Formula 1 and if he is needed there then that will take priority.
Bruno Famin, who is vice-president of Alpine Motorsport, said “the contract is clear, the agreement with Mick is clear, if he has the opportunity to drive in F1 to replace George [Russell] or Lewis [Hamilton], he will go to F1,” in an interview.
The 2024 F1 and WEC seasons start on the same date, and in neighbouring countries in the form of Bahrain and Qatar, then four of WEC’s remaining seven rounds also clash with F1 races. Should Schumacher therefore need to be called up to F1, Alpine will need to have a reserve driver ready to drive their A424 hypercar on five weekends.
“A reserve driver will be known in due time,” added Famin. “We will have one. From among the Alpine Endurance family if we have a problem, we will find easily a reserve driver.”
F1 one of the most popular live events to visit in 2023
StubHub’s annual ‘Year in Experiences’ report, which looks at the popularity of live events across sport, music and beyond, has shown the impact that F1’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in November made with audiences.
Based on “cumulative, global ticket sales on StubHub North America and Viagogo international marketplaces for events” covering 88 countries, the Las Vegas GP was found to be the third most in-demand sporting event in the world this year. The Miami Grand Prix was in sixth place, the Canadian Grand Prix was in seventh and the United States Grand Prix was in eighth. Last year two F1 rounds made the top 10 in the ranking.
Bustamenta apologises for Stroll gaffe
McLaren-backed F1 Academy racer Biance Bustamente issued a fulsome apology after accidentally ‘liking’ a social media message which described Lance Stroll as having autism.
“I truly deeply apologise,” Bustamente wrote in a post. “I own up to my mistakes having liked an inappropriate tweet.
“I can’t believe all the people whom I have hurt. I was scrolling and I accidentally liked the tweet, once I discovered that later on, I immediately unliked it. As someone who grew up with my only brother having autism, I completely understand the…
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