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MICK SCHUMACHER will move to the World Endurance Championship to race for Alpine in 2024.The son of legend Michael Schumacher lost his F1 seat at Haas to Nico Hulkenberg following the 2022 season.
Schumacher has landed a new job away from F1Credit: Getty
He spent two seasons at Haas, before being axedCredit: Getty
He is the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael SchmacherCredit: Alamy
Schumacher, 24, is a reserve driver for McLaren and Mercedes but has struggled to get a chance behind Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
He had long hoped to return to the F1 grid, potentially with Williams, but it looks like they will stick with America’s Logan Sargeant.
He has therefore failed to secure a seat for next season.
But it’s not all bad news – as the young prodigy has landed himself a new contract in a different branch of the sport.
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The German has signed a deal with Alpine and will compete in the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class next year.
In this format, a group of drivers form a team that races with just one car.
In the WEC’s six- to eight-hour races, the cars are usually split between three drivers.
Round four of the championship features the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
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Schumacher said: “I sorely missed racing this year; it’s what I’ve loved to do since I was a kid.
“And it was sometimes difficult to watch the other drivers take to the track.
“Endurance racing is a new challenge for me, and I’m sure we will share great moments together next year with Alpine.”
Schumacher took part in 43 Formula 1 races with Haas between 2021 and 2022.
But he paid the price for a series of high-profile crashes and for failing to match the output of then teammate Kevin Magnussen.
He is also likely to retain his role as test and reserve driver at Mercedes.
His father and seven-time F1 champion Michael competed in endurance racing with Sauber-Mercedes before making his grand prix debut with Jordan in 1991.
Michael has not been seen in public since his horror ski crash in 2013. More

LEWIS HAMILTON’S replacement for first practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been named.Mercedes have confirmed that Frederik Vesti will take his place in the driving seat.
Lewis Hamilton will miss first practice at the Abu Dhabi grand prixCredit: Rex
Frederik Vesti will drive Hamilton’s car at the Yas Marina circuitCredit: Getty
An F1 rule introduced last year requires each team to run a rookie for two practice sessions across the season.
With the Abu Dhabi race weekend serving as the season finale, a host of young drivers are set to appear, with every team yet to fulfil the requirements.
Vesti will be amongst those promising starlets after Mercedes confirmed he will drive Hamilton’s car.
The 21-year-old previously took part in first practice in Mexico last month in place of George Russell.
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He has impressed in Formula 2 for Prema Racing this year, having been a part of Mercedes’ Silver Arrows programme since 2021.
The Danish driver is second in the F2 standings ahead of the final round at the Yas Marina circuit and could clinch the championship this weekend.
Vesti will first appear in FP1, though, and told Mercedes’ official website: “Driving in FP1 in Abu Dhabi is another step in my career.
“Getting my first experience of an official session on an F1 weekend in Mexico was a big moment. I learnt so much, and it was great being able to support the team and work with Lewis and George.
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It has been a difficult season for Hamilton and MercedesCredit: Rex
“I’m looking forward to building on that experience at Yas Marina. It’s a track I know well and that will no doubt make it easier to get up to speed in the one hour of practice.
“I’m extremely excited to get back behind-the-wheel of the W14 for FP1 and then the post-season test. Once again, I want to say a big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity.”
It has been a difficult season for Mercedes, who have yet to win a race in 2023.
Hamilton and Russell’s final places in the Drivers’ Championship have also already been confirmed, with the pair finishing third and eighth, respectively. More

LEWIS HAMILTON has hit out at Max Verstappen’s criticism of the Las Vegas Grand Prix saying the star-studded race was one of the best of the year.Verstappen had blasted the circus around this GP, labelling it “a show” and saying it was “99 per cent entertainment and one per cent race”.
Lewis Hamilton has hailed the Las Vegas GP as one of the best races of the seasonCredit: Splash
Hamilton finished the race in seventhCredit: Reuters
The Red Bull ace had said it was more National League than Champions League and lashed out after the cringeworthy Superbowl-style opening ceremony.
But Hamilton, a long-term supporter of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, said: “I’m really, really happy to have had a positive race and I’m really grateful the race was so good.
“I really wasn’t expecting the track to be so great but the more and more laps you did I just really loved racing it.
“Lots of great overtaking opportunities and I think for all those who were so negative about the weekend, saying it was all about show blah blah blah, I think Vegas proved them wrong.”
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Hamilton said the thrilling race proves that F1 can sustain three races in the US, as Vegas joins Miami and Austin on the calendar.
He added: “There has been criticism about having three races in the United States, and people talking about bringing back old classics from Europe.
“But this has provided a better race than most of the tracks we go to. Hats off to the people who ran the show.
“I cannot wait to come back and hopefully have a better race next year. I am really grateful to Vegas for having us.”
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Verstappen went on to win the race, with Charles Leclerc finishing second and Sergio Perez third.
But it did not go to plan for Hamilton’s fellow Brit Lando Norris, who crashed out on the third lap.
The 24-year-old collided with the barriers at around 180mph before sliding down a straight and coming to a stop at the turn 12 run-off.
He was taken to hospital but later discharged with no significant injuries.
There was chaos even before the race started after two show cars leaked oil on the track, which subsequently left Verstappen furious. More

VIVA Max Vegas!It was the only certainty in the city where luck plays its part as Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand PrixCredit: Getty
Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham headlined the star-studded VIP listCredit: Getty
Brad Pitt looked as cool as ever at the circuitCredit: Getty
Justin Bieber waved the chequered flag for VerstappenCredit: Reuters
Veronika Rajek made quite the impression in her sparkling pink outfitCredit: Getty
Rihanna was one of the biggest names enjoying the event as a Ferrari guestCredit: Getty
Paris Hilton could not hide her smile as she walked down the pit laneCredit: AFP
Dressed in an all-white Elvis Presley-style race suite, the world champion belted out a rendition of the singer’s hit about this gambling mecca.
It was his 18th win of the season but this time he was made to fight for it after picking up a five-second penalty on the first lap.
He had a running battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who started on pole and eventually came home in second place after pipping Sergio Perez on the final lap.
The Mexican choked on the final lap for the second successive race as he was unable to hold on.
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Verstappen, who had blasted this race as “99 per cent entertainment” said: “It was a tough one.
“I tried to go for it at the start. I just ran out of grip, so ended up a bit wide.
“The stewards gave me a penalty for that and it put us on the backfoot.
“I had to pass quite a few cars and there was the Safety Car, so at that point there was a lot going on… Definitely a lot of fun.”
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Leclerc added: “What a race! I enjoyed it so much. I’m of course disappointed to only finish second, but that’s the best we could do.
“At the start Max on the inside lost a little bit of the grip and brought me onto the outside [of the track] but we had good pace, we passed him back, and we were really strong overall. So that was a really good race.
“The weekend didn’t start the way it had to start but I am so happy it ended that way.
“It’s such an incredible sport and I today is no better race than for the first race in Vegas. The energy around the city is incredible and I at least really enjoyed today.”
Verstappen’s win means Red Bull have set a new record for the most wins in a season by a team – surpassing Mercedes’ 19 victories from 2016.
The Dutchman has now equalled Sebastian Vettel on 53 career wins, the joint-third most on the all-time winners’ list.
Verstappen celebrates alongside Sergio Perez and Charles LeclercCredit: Getty
The race took place on the famous Las Vegas stripCredit: Splash
It was a disappointing race for Lewis HamiltonCredit: EPA
Lando Norris crashed out of the raceCredit: Rex
It was victory No18 in a remarkable season for VerstappenCredit: Getty
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had eventful races as Mercedes’ hopes of a return to form were ended.
Boss Toto Wolff is under more pressure to turn the team around after a miserable two years.
Hamilton, who had come into this weekend saying the team had learned their lessons from the Brazilian GP, was only good enough for seventh after picking up a puncture in a tangle with Oscar Piastri.
And Russell came home in eighth place but only after serving a five-second penalty for banging into Verstappen.
Lando Norris crashed out on the third lap after inexplicably losing control of his McLaren at high speed.
Norris climbed from his McLaren but was taken to the medical centre for checks before being sent to the local hospital.
Gordon Ramsay attended with his daughter Holly AnnaCredit: Getty
Cara Delevingne opted for a green numberCredit: Getty
Kylie Minogue posed alongside Verstappen’s Red Bull carCredit: Getty
Amanda Sorensen was a guest at the Sports Illustrated Club SICredit: Getty
Camille Kostek opted for a black leather outfitCredit: Getty
Usain Bolt took in the sights and sounds of the Vegas GPCredit: AFP
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made an appearance at the raceCredit: Getty
MMA star Aljamain Sterling looked brilliant in a floral shirt and pastel pink suitCredit: Getty
Nastya Swan rocked a pink dressCredit: Getty
Rachael Kirkconnell looked glamorous in a skirt and high bootsCredit: Getty
Colin Kaepernick kept himself warm amid the low temperaturesCredit: Getty
Fifa president Gianni Infantino was in the houseCredit: Getty More

MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff fiercely defended organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a passionate rant following Thursday’s cancelled practice session.FP1 lasted just eight minutes before it was brought to a halt after Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz hit a loose manhole cover.
Toto Wolff, second from left, raged at critics of the Las Vegas Grand PrixCredit: Sky Sports
He could not believe people were labelling the FP1 incident a ‘black eye for the sport’Credit: Sky Sports
The track issue has led to criticism of the event – the inaugural Las Vegas race.
However, Wolff was quick to reject that way of thinking after one reporter suggested the incident was a “black eye” for the sport.
The Mercedes chief said: “That is not a black eye. This is nothing.
“We are Thursday night, we have a free practice session one that we are not doing. We are going to seal the drain covers and no one is going to talk about that tomorrow morning.”
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When pressed further on his comments, he added: “It’s completely ridiculous. How can you even dare try to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards to everything.
“Then you are speaking about a f***ing drain cover that has been undone – that has happened before – that’s nothing. It’s FP1.
“Give credit to the people that have set up this Grand Prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was.”
Talking directly to a journalist, he continued: “Have you ever spoken good about someone and written a good word? You should about all these people that have been out here.
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“Liberty [F1’s owners Liberty Media] has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 a drain cover has come undone we shouldn’t be moaning.
“The car [Sainz’s Ferrari] is broken, that’s really a shame. For Carlos it could have been dangerous. So between the FIA, the track, everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure this is not happening again.
“But talking here about the black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening… nobody watches it at European time anyway. Come on.”
The second practice session was delayed, but the drivers eventually got out on track as Charles Leclerc topped the leaderboard.
Wolff’s Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, posted the ninth and 12th best times.
It comes off the back of a nightmare weekend in Brazil for the Silver Arrows as Hamilton finished eighth and Russell failed to finish. More

LEWIS HAMILTON opted for a bold outfit as he hit the red carpet ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.And fans have been quick to compare his out-there fashion choice to something you would see in the Matrix movies.
Lewis Hamilton sported a bold outfit on the red carpet in Las VegasCredit: Getty
Fans likened his look to something out of the Matrix moviesCredit: Getty
Neo sported a similar all-black look in the 1999 filmCredit: Rex Features
Hamilton sported an all-black outfit with a long trenchcoat, sunglasses, dark trousers and some chunky boots.
Formula One fans have grown used to the Mercedes driver’s extravagant fashion statements, but were still blown away by his latest look .
Some compared it to the outfit worn by Neo in the Matrix films who was played by Keanu Reeves.
One fan wrote: “Bro just spawned into The Matrix.”
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While another added: “Bit of a Matrix vibe going on…love it!!”
Sunday’s GP will be the first F1 face in Vegas since 1982 and is bound to be filled with drama alongside the glitz and the glamour.
For Hamilton it is about chasing down second place in the drivers standings with Sergio Perez currently occupying the space.
A World Championship was wiped off the table weeks ago when Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive title in Qatar.
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It will be extremely difficult for Hamilton to catch up with the Mexican though, with Perez winning twice already this season and making the podium eight times.
The Brit on the other hand is yet to win a race and has only managed to get on the podium on six occasions.
The race itself could be chaos with track temperatures set to be around five degrees, far from optimal for F1 tyres which thrive in warmer conditions.
Hamilton has built a reputation for his interesting fashion choicesCredit: Splash
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More